China had one of the world’s tightest COVID regimes and followed historic protests against a policy that included frequent testing, curbs on movement and mass lockdowns.
Travelers began streaming across land and sea crossings from Hong Kong to mainland China on Sunday, many eager for long-awaited reunions, as Beijing opened borders that have been all but shut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
China’s easing over the past month of one of the world’s tightest COVID regimes followed historic protests against a policy that included frequent testing, curbs on movement and mass lockdowns that heavily damaged the second-biggest economy. Investors hope the reopening will eventually reinvigorate a $17-trillion economy suffering its lowest growth in nearly half a century. But the abrupt policy reversal has triggered a massive wave of infections that is overwhelming some hospitals and causing business disruptions.
Many Chinese are also expected to start traveling abroad, a long-awaited shift for tourist spots in countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, though several governments – worried about China’s COVID spike – are imposing curbs on travelers from the country.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China reopens borders in final farewell to zero-COVIDTravellers began streaming across land and sea crossings from Hong Kong to mainland China on Sunday, many eager for long-awaited reunions, as Beijing opened borders that have been all but shut since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more »
EXPLAINER: Is China sharing enough COVID-19 information?EXPLAINER: As COVID-19 rips through China, other countries and the World Health Organization are calling on its government to share more comprehensive data. Some even say many of the numbers it's reporting are meaningless.
Read more »
Travel curbs rack up as COVID-hit China readies reopeningMore countries around the world are demanding that visitors from China take COVID tests, days before it drops border controls and ushers in an eagerly awaited return to travel for a population that has been largely stuck at home for three years.
Read more »
Coronavirus tally: China seeks to avoid a major COVID outbreak during Lunar New Year travel seasonChina is hoping to avoid a major new outbreak of COVID cases during the coming Lunar New Year travel season, the Associated Press reported. The...
Read more »