The Chinese Embassy in the UK has announced that it is once again suspending entry to all non-Chinese citizens coming from the UK to China, even if they are holding valid visas and residence permits. The announcement, which was made on Thursday, is the latest bid by the Chinese government to keep the country largely COVID free this winter.

After announcing that those wanting to travel from the UK to China would be required to take a nucleic acid and IgM antibody test before receiving a health declaration from the Chinese embassy, it has been revealed today that such declarations will no longer be issued.

The exceptions will be repatriating Chinese nationals and holders of diplomatic, service or C visas. Any foreign national who needs to fly to China from the UK for a business or personal emergency will be required to apply for a special visa at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate. Visas issued after November 3, 2020, will also not be affected.

The UK embassy said the suspension was a temporary measure that will be assessed and adjusted according to the evolving COVID situation in the country. According to expat WeChat groups in China, other countries, including Belgium, the Philippines, Poland, Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic, are all now working under similar rules. A full list of the affected countries is currently unavailable, but similar restrictions are likely to be issued against other places with a high rate of infection.

Meanwhile, China’s largest carrier, China Southern Airlines, is to stop taking passengers from 21 countries who transfer via a third country on their way to China. The announcement was made on Tuesday, according to state media the Global Times.

eChinaCities.com has been unable to find the full list of 21 countries affected, but they are said to encompass 10 African nations, including Ethiopia, Guinea and Ghana, and eight Asian countries, including the Philippines, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Russia and Brazil are also said to be on the list.

The carrier said the move was made on the grounds of virus control shortly after the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced the latest round of foreign flight suspensions. On October 30, the regulation suspended three international fights: a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Guangzhou after it transported nine COVID-positive passengers into China; a China Southern route from Dhaka to Guangzhou that imported 10 positive passengers; and an Air Canada flight from Moscow to Shijiazhuang, which transported 14 positive passengers.

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Keywords: new covid testing rules for China