Diverted Returnees to Beijing Do Not Need to Repeat Quarantine

The last of the foreigners who managed to enter China before the blanket ban on non-Chinese nationals entering the country was implemented on Mar 28 will have completed their 14-day quarantine by the end of the week. Some returnees, however, were diverted to other cities to complete their quarantine, causing confusion over whether or not another quarantine period would be required upon entering Beijing.

The Beijing Center for Disease Control has finally provided an answer to this conundrum: according to this official announcement, as long as you test negative for COVID-19, you do not have to repeat the quarantine period if you completed it in the city where you entered China. 

Importantly, this applies only to returnees who enter Beijing on the day of, or the day after completing quarantine, unless returnees are delayed at an airport, train station, or in traffic. Anyone who enters Beijing more than one day after completing quarantine for any other reason will have to repeat the 14-day quarantine period upon entering the city.

While this appears to be the official policy, we strongly advise returnees to contact their community as soon as possible to make sure they are aware of the policy, and to urge their community to check with the local authorities if they are not.

One French returnee, who is just completing his quarantine in Henan province's capital of Zhengzhou, where his Bangkok to Beijing flight was diverted last month, shared his experience with the Beijinger: "I asked [my housing community] to check with the local authority. They checked and told me a second quarantine was not necessary," adding, "I hope everything goes smoothly."

Perhaps in an attempt to cool rising xenophobic feelings, a recent post by the Beijing Foreign Affairs official WeChat account emphasized that foreign and Chinese nationals should be held to the same prevention and control measures. Foreigners should therefore not expect any more or less trouble than usual upon entering Beijing and should remain respectful and cooperative if trouble arises.

READ: Foreigners Can Finally Use the Beijing Health Kit to Prove Their Health Status. Here's How.

Image: TASS