COVID relaxations – आवारा मुसाफिर

China, Hong Kong resume high-speed rail link after 3 years

January 15, 2023462 Views

China resumed on Sunday high-speed rail services between Hong Kong and the mainland for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as it dismantles travel curbs after Beijing scrapped quarantine for arrivals a week earlier. The re-opening comes amidst a massive wave of infections nationwide and a day after authorities said nearly 60,000 people with COVID had died in hospital, following last month’s abrupt U-turn on “zero-COVID” policy in the wake of historic protests. A passenger arrives at West Kowloon High-Speed Train Station Terminus on the first day of the resumption of rail service to mainland China, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong, China, January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Despite the infections, some passengers voiced exc...

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Japan considers ending pre-arrival COVID test requirement

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

August 22, 2022717 Views

Japan is considering ending its pre-arrival COVID-19 testing for inbound travellers who are already vaccinated, Nikkei reported late on Monday. The current rule requires travellers to show a negative test result within 72 hours of their departure, the report said. As some countries curtail their testing capabilities, obtaining the necessary documents has become more difficult. FILE PHOTO: Kimono-clad tourists wearing protective face masks walk along Nakamise Street at Asakusa district, a popular sightseeing spot, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan. REUTERS/Issei Kato A decision will be made soon, taking the country's case count into consideration. The easing is likely to take effect within a few weeks. Japan's coronavirus-related entry rules ar...

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China reduces quarantine for people arriving from abroad

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

June 28, 2022179 Views

China on Tuesday announced an easing of its quarantine requirement for people arriving from abroad but stopped short of lifting what remains a stringent COVID-19 policy compared to most other countries. Anyone coming from outside the country will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel for seven days, followed by three days of home quarantine, the National Health Commission said in its latest pandemic response plan. The previous plan called for 14 days in a hotel plus seven days of home quarantine. Some cities, including Beijing, have already reduced the hotel requirement to seven or 10 days in recent weeks, according to Chinese media reports. People wearing face masks take photos of lotus flowers at a public park in Beijing, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)...

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South Korea lifts most COVID precautions

AWARA MUSAFIR BUREAU

April 19, 20221229 Views

South Korea lifted almost all of its COVID-19 precautions on Monday in a major step towards a return to normal life as the Omicron variant recedes and daily infections retreated to a more than two-month low of fewer than 50,000. A midnight curfew on restaurants and other businesses was scrapped, along with a cap of 10 people allowed to gather. From next week, people will be allowed to eat snacks in cinemas and other indoor public facilities such as stadiums. People are still required to wear masks, however, with the government planning to review whether to lift a rule for masks outdoors in two weeks. FILE PHOTO: Women wearing masks walk in a shopping district amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Seoul, South Korea, March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Heo Ran The relaxation of the rules come as t...