New Rule For Entering Beijing

Authorities have introduced an additional rule for entering Beijing following the first confirmed locally transmitted case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in Beijing.

[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Those entering or returning to Beijing from elsewhere on the Chinese mainland must undergo a nucleic acid test within 72 hours of arriving in the capital.[/box]

[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” class=”” width=””]We could call it the 48 + 72 rule[/box]

This rule is in addition to the requirement that travelers have proof of a negative nucleic acid test result issued within 48 hours of departure to the capital, as well as a green Beijing Health Kit.

The rule will be in place from January 22 until the end of March. Failure to undergo a nucleic acid test within the required period may impact an individual’s Beijing Health Kit, as reported by Beijing Daily.

The new rule comes following Beijing’s first locally transmitted case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 confirmed on January 15.

The individual resides in the city’s Haidian district and has no travel history 14 days before testing positive.

The individual had recently visited many restaurants, shopping centers, and elsewhere in Haidian, Changping, Xicheng, and Chaoyang districts.

In response to the COVID-19 situation, Yonghegong Lama Temple announced that it would close to the public from January 17 until further notice.

China is currently battling local outbreaks of COVID-19 in many places. On this day, the Chinese mainland has 20 high-risk areas and 67 mid-risk areas.

As well as in Beijing, locally transmitted cases of the omicron variant have been detected in Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Dalian, and Anyang.

Beijing residents have been advised not to leave the city unless necessary.

Rules related to COVID-19 in the capital are not to be eased anytime soon, especially with the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics due to start on February 4.