By Reuters | 10:36 PM November 05, 2020
China has barred non-Chinese travellers from Britain, Belgium, the Philippines and India, imposing some of the most stringent entry curbs of any country as global coronavirus cases surge.
In some of the most stringent border restrictions imposed by any country in response to the pandemic, China has temporarily suspended entry of non-Chinese nationals travelling from the United Kingdom even if they hold valid visas and residence permits, the Chinese embassy in Britain said.
The Chinese embassies in Belgium and the Philippines released similar statements announcing restrictions on travelers from the two countries.
The rejection of non-Chinese travelers from Britain came as England entered a month-long lockdown starting Thursday.
Britain’s death toll is the highest in Europe and it is grappling with more than 20,000 new coronavirus cases a day.
Belgium has Europe’s highest per capita number of new confirmed cases, while the Philippines has the second-highest number of infections and deaths in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
The suspension was a partial reversal of an easing on Sept. 28, when China allowed all foreigners with valid residence permits to enter. In March, China had banned entry of foreigners in response to the epidemic.
Starting Nov. 6, all passengers from the United States, France, Germany and Thailand bound for mainland China must take both a nucleic acid test and a blood test for antibodies against the coronavirus. The tests must be done no more than 48 hours before boarding.
If the passenger needs to make a transit stop en route to China, the same tests must be done in the transit country or region.