Q&A for Entry into Fujian by Overseas Travellers During the Period for Prevention and Control of COVID-19

I.  Is it safe to travel to China now?

With concerted and strenuous efforts, China has made initial progress in epidemic control and turned the tide against COVID-19. However, as the virus spreads across the world, China is facing a growing risk of imported cases.

Before you decide on your trip, please make sure that you have done the following:

1.     Follow closely the COVID-19 developments and latest control measures at your place of departure and comply with local rules and regulations.

2.     Understand what prevention and control measures will be taken by the authorities of your destination and what entry procedures are required for overseas arrivals in China.

3.     Check on your flight status and the regulations and requirements for transiting through other countries to avoid losses in case of any transit refusal.

4.     Assess your fitness for long-haul travel. Given the risk of cross infection, you should think twice about long-distance trips, and try not to take airplanes or other forms of transport with enclosed spaces. If you have symptoms, avoid long journeys to lower the risk of transmission.

Please make well-informed, prudent and rational decisions based on a thorough evaluation of risks mentioned above.

II.  Should foreign nationals entering Fujian be quarantined? Are Fujian-bound travellers subject to quarantine if they are from low-risk countries and regions?

According to the Notice on Improving Health Management of Overseas Arrivals in Fujian, from 0:00, March 19, 2020, all inbound visitors to Fujian with travel/residence history to other countries as well as Taiwan Province, Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR of China over the past 14 days, Chinese and foreign nationals alike, will be placed under a 14-day medical observation in designated places. We will take their reasonable concerns into full consideration, respect their religious beliefs and customs, arrange proper accommodations, and provide necessary assistance.

III. Who are eligible for home quarantine?

Home quarantine can be granted to the following people upon application prior to their arrival: those aged 70 or above, minors, pregnant or postpartum women and those with pre-existing conditions, who are not suitable for medical observation in designated places. Once approved, they need to sign a letter of notification and a commitment statement upon arrival, and comply with the health management requirements during the 14-day home quarantine.

IV. If I arrived in Fujian from overseas before March 19 but have stayed in the province for less than 14 days, shall I undergo medical observation in designated places?

Please call the hotline of the corresponding municipality for information. The effective date for medical observation in designated places may vary slightly between localities.

V. What are the procedures for flight transfer from Beijing to Fujian?

From 0:00, March 23 Beijing Time, all international passenger flights bound for Beijing will be diverted to the following 12 designated first points of entry (FPOE): Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Hohhot, Shanghai’s Pudong, Jinan, Qingdao, Nanjing, Shenyang, Dalian, Zhengzhou and Xi’an. The designated FPOEs for the specific flights operated by airlines can be found on the official websites of the Civil Aviation Administration of China and airlines.

Passengers on the above-mentioned flights shall go through quarantine inspection, entry procedures and baggage clearance at the first points of entry. Those who pass quarantine inspection can reboard the same flights to Beijing. Customs clearance for the belly-hold cargo will be handled in Beijing. The designated FPOEs for international flights bound for Beijing and relevant measures will be adjusted in due course in light of the epidemic developments.

After arriving in Beijing,

Ÿ   if the transit passengers can catch the flights to Fujian on the same day without changing terminals, they can directly board the connecting flights.

Ÿ   other Fujian-bound transit passengers will be transferred to the New China International Exhibition Centre where they will be taken care of by the Fujian transit team for health checks, information gathering and ticket verification. Passengers with flights scheduled on the same day will be shuttled to the airport, while those with flights scheduled on the next day will be sent to designated hotels (the costs of food and accommodation shall be borne by themselves), and transported to the airport on the following day.

Upon arriving in Fujian, passengers will be taken directly to designated places for medical observation by emergency commands of corresponding local governments.

VI. What health management measures will be adopted on overseas arrivals at Fuzhou airport?

1.     Travellers with symptoms like fever will be transferred to Changle District Hospital for medical observation and treatment.

2.     Close contacts with people having fever or other symptoms will be transported to Changle Airport Hospital for quarantine and observation, and sent to Fuzhou Seaview Fliport Resort upon release from quarantine.

After being released, the above-mentioned two groups of people need to undergo the nucleic acid testing until the expiry of 30 days since the beginning of quarantine.

3.     For travellers cleared at the airport, non-transit passengers bound for the counties, county-level cities and districts in Fuzhou will be placed under quarantine in designated places by emergency commands of corresponding local governments, while those bound for other municipalities will be quarantined in Fuzhou Seaview Fliport Resort. Transit passengers must be tested negative for coronavirus before continuing their trip.

VII. Is nucleic acid testing required before release from medical observation in designated places?

Nucleic acid testing is a must for entering and exiting designated quarantine sites. One can only be released after being tested negative for COVID-19.

VIII. Who will bear the expenses incurred during medical observation in designated places?

The costs of nucleic acid testing will be covered by corresponding local governments, and the costs of food and accommodation will be borne by those under quarantine.

IX. Who will bear the costs for treatment of confirmed cases?

Infected travellers who are not covered by China’s basic medical insurance will, in principle, have to bear their treatment fees.

Please seek medical care immediately when you develop suspected symptoms of coronavirus, and avoid going out. Overseas travellers who make false statement, withhold information about their health, and cause the spread of the disease will be held accountable in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations, and have their social credit scores docked.

X. What requirements should travellers follow upon arrival in Fujian?

Overseas travellers should report relevant information, undergo medical observation in designated places and abide by the orders and decisions made by local governments.

Travellers entering or exiting China have a legal obligation to make health declaration truthfully. Those who intentionally conceal contact or travel/residence history, make false statement about health condition, cause or may cause the spread of the virus will be punished for committing the crime of obstructing the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and held accountable in accordance with the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China.

Those who refuse to undergo medical observation in designated places or follow government orders and decisions shall be deemed to have violated the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Penalties for Administration of Public Security. Cases of gross violation shall constitute the crime of interference with public service.

XI. What should foreign nationals do if their visas expire during the period for epidemic control?

With no need of a separate application, foreign nationals in China will have their stay or residence permits extended automatically for two months during the fight against the epidemic. They can legally stay in or leave China within the extended period.

Fujian Provincial Hotline for Foreign Nationals: 0591-87845055

Hotlines in Municipalities

Foreign Affairs Office

Fujian Provincial People’s Government

  March 22, 2020