Immigration update: China | Impose stricter quarantine measures
China impose stricter quarantine measures
The COVID-19 virus emerged in central China in late December 2019 and the latest figures show it has infected more than 162 000 people. The World Health Organization has now classified COVID-19 a global pandemic. Due to the global impact, China has continually tightened prevention and control measures.
Who will be affected?
Travelers who enter China from overseas.
Impact
Beijing: After further tightening up in prevention and control measures for foreigners as more imported COVID-19 cases are detected in the city, effective from 16th March 2020, all international flights including flights from Hong Kong /Macau/Taiwan will arrive in T3-D area. All travelers including those not from the hard-hit countries arriving in Beijing, are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine at a designated place. Local health authorities will arrange staff to conduct regular medical observation at a designated place. Any special circumstances, after strict assessment by local authorities and approval, can conduct home quarantine. People who are quarantined at designated sites need to cover accommodation and meals fees themselves.
Shanghai: Effective from 17th March 2020, stricter policies for arrivals from countries hard hit by COVID-19. People who have lived or traveled in key countries in the 14 days prior to their arrival in Shanghai at Hongqiao and Pudong international airports will be taken to districts temporary checking and observation sites upon arrival by staff. In the past, private vehicle pick-up at the tow airports was allowed.
The 16 key countries are South Korea, Japan, Italy, Iran, France, Spain, Germany, The United States, UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Norway.
After arriving at temporary observation sites in each district, travelers will then undergo nucleic acid tests for COVID-19. Those with negative test results will be escorted to their residences or designated sites by district officials to undergo 14-day quarantine, while people testing positive will be transferred to designated medical treatment institutions.
Stricter measures on quarantine conditions will also be imposed. Sub district officials will check whether arriving passengers from key countries meet home quarantine conditions by visiting their living spaces while they wait for the nucleic acid test results, and they will be quarantined at designated spots if conditions don’t allow home quarantine.
Stricter home quarantine management will be imposed by police, health authorities and community officials to ensure that those quarantined for 14-day medical observation do not leave home. People breaking quarantine will be held responsible according to the law. People arriving from countries who are quarantined at designated sites need to cover accommodation and meals fees themselves. The accommodation fees are between 200 yuan (US$28) and 400 yuan (US$56) per person daily.
The same expanded measures apply to those who arrive in Shanghai via other ports in China from key countries.
Similar stricter quarantine measures have also been imposed in Guangdong, Shandong, Anhui, Shanxi, Chengdu effective from 17th March 2020.
Santa Fe Analysis
Santa Fe Relocation will monitor the situation closely and provide updated information once available.
Should you have any questions, please contact the following:
Maggie Hu
Immigration Manager – China
Santa Fe Relocation
Shanghai, China
D: (86-21) 6233 9700 ext. 134
M: +13917317947
E: maggie.hu@santaferelo.com
Robert Day
Group Head of Immigration Operation
Santa Fe Relocation
London, UK
D: +44 7990 021125
E: robert.day@santaferelo.com
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