China Expands List of Severe COVID-19 Countries from 15 to 25

Global Times Adds 10 Countries Including Japan, Israel, and Portugal

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Young-shin] The Beijing municipal authorities in China have added Japan and nine other countries to the list of severe COVID-19 affected countries. As a result, the number of severe COVID-19 countries has increased from the previous 15 to 25.

According to the state-run Global Times on the 26th, the Beijing authorities added 10 new countries to the existing list of 15 severe countries, including Japan, Israel, Portugal, Czech Republic, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

The Beijing authorities explained that they expanded the list of severe countries to 25 to prevent the reverse importation of COVID-19. Chinese authorities have previously warned their citizens not to travel to Italy, Spain, France, Germany, the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Austria.

The Global Times added that there have been a total of five reverse-imported COVID-19 confirmed cases, all of whom are Chinese students studying abroad (2 in the United States, 2 in the United Kingdom, and 1 in Spain). Chinese authorities also repeatedly urged their citizens to refrain from unnecessary outdoor activities.