Visiting China Comes With COVID-19 Risks

The U.S. Department of State today issued a Reconsider Travel Advisory for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to COVID-19 health risks and local laws.

With the Winter Olympics and Paralympics 2022 scheduled to start in early February, this State Department Advisory presents various challenges for international travelers.

The zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19 by the PRC and Hong Kong governments severely impacts travel and access to public services. Therefore, all arrivals should prepare to quarantine at a government-designated location for a minimum of 14 days. 

While in quarantine, health authorities will test travelers as often as daily for COVID-19 and will not permit travelers to leave their rooms. 

Travelers who test positive during this quarantine time will be transferred to a government-designated medical facility. 

Standards of care, accommodations, testing, and treatments may differ considerably from standards in the United States. 

Even after completing quarantine upon arrival, travelers to the PRC and Hong Kong may face additional quarantines, SARS-CoV-2 testing, as well as movement restrictions, including but not limited to medical services and public transportation. 

Moreover, travelers within the PRC and Hong Kong (SAR) may be subject to unannounced mandatory testing. 

In areas with confirmed COVID-19 cases, restrictions may include being confined to home or moved to a government-designated quarantine facility.

Furthermore, if you are detained, ask China officials to notify the U.S. Embassy or the nearest consulate immediately. The U.S. Embassy Beijing is located at No. 55 An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, China.

The State Department also suggests enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts and make it easier to be located in an emergency.

And visit the U.S. Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in the PRC, or the Consulate General Hong Kong's COVID-19 page for details on the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong as testing and travel requirements frequently change.

Major changes have been announced in light of the latest developments concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers to China after January 13, 2022, are required to read and follow procedures at this weblink. 

Foreign passengers can apply for a health code at this webpage.

The U.S. CDC has issued a low-level Travel Advisory regarding COVID-19 in China. Additional travel vaccine options are listed on this webpage. 

Vax-Before-Travel publishes fact-checked research-based travel vaccine news.