After a corona outbreak on the holiday island of Hainan, also known as “Hawaii China”, the first of the more than 80,000 tourists stuck in hotels will soon be able to go home again. As the authorities announced on Tuesday, the travel restrictions are gradually being lifted.
More than 1,500 cases of infection have been recorded in the holiday resort of Sanya in Hainan since the beginning of August. All flights from the southern Chinese island were canceled, and tickets were no longer sold for the trains running on Hainan. Leisure facilities such as karaoke bars, pubs and spas have been closed since last week.
As the Hainan health authority has now announced, tourists in areas with no cases of infection are allowed to leave the island if they have tested negative for the corona virus twice within 48 hours. In areas where the risk of infection is considered low despite reported cases, tourists will be allowed to leave if they have had no symptoms in the past three days and have tested negative three times within 72 hours.
However, tourists stuck in areas with a medium or high risk of infection will have to wait until the situation improves. Hotels must give their guests a 50 percent discount until travel restrictions are lifted.
Despite the enormous economic damage and increasing disenchantment among the people, the authorities in China are pursuing a strict zero-Covid strategy. Individual outbreaks are immediately combated with local lockdowns and mass testing.
Published: 09/08/2022 – Source: Agence-France-Presse