China to lift PCR test requirement for inbound travelers

Vacationers coming into China will now not want to supply a damaging PCR check end result ranging from Saturday, in one other easing of China’s “zero-COVID” insurance policies.

Vacationers can as a substitute present a damaging antigen check end result taken inside 48 hours earlier than boarding, Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning informed reporters Tuesday.

Over the past three years, China imposed an array of controls to attempt to remove the coronavirus from the neighborhood, together with lockdowns and common mass testing. However after the principles hammered the economic system and sparked protests, the federal government all of the sudden rolled again its onerous measures in December and made a serious step to drop its quarantine rule in early January.

Final month, the nation resumed the issuance of all sorts of visas as a part of its efforts to revive tourism. Nonetheless, it has saved PCR testing necessities for passengers arriving from some nations — a pricey requirement that was a serious deterrent for guests to return.

“To additional facilitate cross-border journey, China is taking new steps to refine pre-departure testing necessities, guided by the precept of making certain secure and orderly journey and conserving the measures science-based and well-targeted,” Mao mentioned.

She added that airways would now not test check outcomes earlier than departure.