To prevent the spread and reoccurrence of coronavirus, foreign nationals are not allowed to enter China, where the virus was initially observed in December 2019. The ban, which was announced by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday March 26, will be effective from Saturday March 28. The restrictions will be adjusted based on the evolving situation with no specified end date.
Those with valid visas and residence permits will be prohibited from entering the country, except for diplomats and individuals providing essential economic, scientific, technical, or emergency humanitarian services. This precaution comes as China has experienced an increase in “imported cases,” with 54 out of 55 new cases on Thursday originating from overseas.
As of Friday March 27, the Chinese National Health Commission has reported 81,340 confirmed cases and 3,292 deaths from COVID-19. Globally, the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 511,000, with over 23,000 deaths and nearly 121,000 recoveries, according to data from Johns Hopkins University in the U.S.