China to reopen borders, but no wave of travellers expected

China will open up to foreign countries again on Sunday, the authorities have announced, after Beijing ended its strict zero-Covid policy that had involved virtually shutting its borders.

It will likely take months, however, before travel returns to normal following almost three years of border closures.

For one thing, the low number of international flights from China will limit the number of travellers.

Fearing that new virus variants could emerge from the current explosion of Covid-19 cases in the world's most populous country, EU countries including France, Italy, Belgium and Sweden now require travellers to present a negative Covid-19 test before departure, which must be no more than 48 hours old.

On Friday, the German Cabinet agreed to introduce the same testing requirements, to come into force on Monday. Germany had announced the measure on Thursday. The authorities are also planning to randomly test passengers after landing.

The German Foreign Office also updated its travel advice on Saturday, urging people on Twitter to avoid "unnecessary travel" to China, so as not to overwhelm the Chinese health system.

Several countries are also interested in examining waste water from aircraft arriving from China for signs of possible new coronavirus variants. Such checks already occur on flights arriving at Frankfurt Airport, Germany's main hub for intercontinental flights.

Despite China's reopening, the number of outbound flights from China is currently only about 10% of the pre-pandemic volume and tickets are very expensive.

The Chinese authorities want to resume passport issuance and renewals, but primarily for business and study trips. Likewise, China's embassies are to prioritize visas issued for business, work and study trips as well as family visits.

Most significantly, China is dropping its strict quarantine requirements for passengers entering the country. At times, people travelling into China had to spend three weeks in strict quarantine in a hotel room.

Those wishing to enter China still have to present a negative PCR test no more than 48 hours old before departure. It is no longer necessary however, to apply for an entry permit at the embassy.

The opening of the country comes a month after the abrupt reversal of the rigorous zero-Covid strategy pursued by Beijing since 2020, which had been implemented with lockdowns, mass testing and forced quarantine.

Since then, a massive wave of infections has been rolling through China, catching hospitals completely off guard. There are also many deaths, leaving crematoria overwhelmed.