China "49% Increase in Entry and Exit Numbers After Abolishing Mandatory Quarantine for Arrivals"

China announced that the number of arrivals and departures has increased by nearly 50% since the abolition of the mandatory quarantine policy for overseas arrivals on the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] China announced that the number of people entering and exiting the country has increased by nearly 50% since the abolition of the mandatory quarantine policy for overseas arrivals on the 8th.

On the 13th, the National Immigration Administration of China stated at a briefing held by the State Council's joint COVID-19 prevention and control task force, "Since the easing of prevention measures, the number of people entering and exiting the country has steadily increased and is recovering in an orderly manner."

According to the Immigration Administration, the average daily number of people entering and exiting the country from the 8th to the 12th was 490,000. This is a 48.9% increase compared to before the easing of prevention measures. It is about 26.2% of the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The authorities explained that the average daily number of arrivals is 250,000, and departures are 240,000, with more arrivals than departures. They also reported that the number of people entering and exiting by land, air, and sea were 424,000, 45,000, and 21,000 respectively.

The authorities expect the number of people entering and exiting the country to peak as the Spring Festival (Chunje, Chinese New Year) approaches. They explained that they are expanding testing personnel to prepare for this.

Since March 2020, China had implemented mandatory facility quarantine for arrivals to block the inflow of COVID-19 from overseas. This policy was abolished on the 8th. Since then, travelers entering China can proceed to their destinations without quarantine if there are no abnormalities in the health declaration and general quarantine procedures conducted at the airport after arrival.