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China’s Covid-19 Situation: Common Questions

As we have recently been receiving a number of inquiries regarding the current Coronavirus situation in China, we thought it may be useful to provide some information on the common questions we are being asked…

What are the current Coronavirus Case Rates in China?

The latest data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 15th February 2021 states that (at that point) there had been a total of 101,536 recorded cases in China, with 21 new cases in the last 24 hours.

The estimated graph of current cases in China is shown below:

Most of the cases in China are from international travellers who have either tested positive on arrival or within their quarantine period.  China has one of the strictest quarantine policies to international travellers in the world.

How is Covid-19 currently impacting life in China?

Apart from a few, very limited, high-risk areas, China’s medium and low-risk regions have returned to life (more or less) as normal.  In fact, the Chinese box office takings for this Lunar New Year (12th February 2021) reached pre-pandemic levels.

The central and local government are still very cautious.  Most people are still wearing face masks in public and, for this year’s Chinese New Year festivities, all citizens have been encouraged to stay where they are rather than travelling to meet family.  Within each province of China there is absolutely free movement.

How many have been vaccinated in mainland China?

At the time of writing, on 15th February 2021, some 40 million vaccinations have been administered.

In some cities, vaccination QR codes are being issued to citizens in particular occupations.  The vaccinations are part of China’s mass inoculation among nine key groups of people including medics, social workers, staff in public transport and those in food industries.  Taxi drivers in the city Guangzhou, for instance, will have been issued with a vaccination QR code after inoculation.

What is the current Travel Policy in China?

The Chinese authorities have suspended all direct flights from the UK. This measure will be subject to review but no date has been announced.

On 4 November the Chinese Embassy in the UK announced the temporary suspension of entry into China by non-Chinese nationals in the UK holding Chinese visas or residence permits. Entry by holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas would not be affected. Foreign nationals visiting China for emergencies can still apply for visas at Chinese Embassies or Consulates and entry by non-Chinese nationals in the UK with visas issued after 3 November 2020 will not be affected.

Mandatory requirements to check temperatures and use of health apps or scanning QR codes to prove travel history are in place at transport hubs, hotels and commercial buildings, etc.

Will there be any change to China’s current Travel Policies soon?

There has currently been no news regarding the easing of travel restrictions from UK to China.  The authorities in mainland China banned all flights to and from the UK due to the spread of a variant of COVID-19 detected in the UK.

Are children receiving classroom tuition in China?

Children in China are currently receiving education in their classrooms.  In an effort to prevent the chance of Covid-19 outbreaks, China has introduced many of the same measures as countries in Europe, and elsewhere, where schools have reopened. Principals are instructing students and teachers to keep a distance inside classrooms, though seating arrangements remain largely the same. Teachers are trying to keep students separated by grade, assigning specific routes and entrances for different age groups to avoid crowding. Masks are mostly optional inside classrooms for students and staff.

However, there are differences.  Students and staff in areas where outbreaks had previously been reported, or who had travelled to areas considered risky, were required to show coronavirus test results before the start of school. Education officials have urged students to avoid “unnecessary outings” aside from going to school.  Students are also discouraged from speaking while eating or taking public transportation.

For how long were schools closed?

China closed schools in late January 2020 in an attempt to stem the spread of Covid-19.  Schools with low infection rates started reopening from mid-March with the last to resume in-class teaching in May 2020.

Since reopening there have been areas that have had to close again temporarily due to spikes in infection rates however the majority of schools remain open to educate students in classrooms.

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