China announced the temporary suspension of entry of foreign nationals holding valid visas or residence permits in a bid to halt the second wave of infection in the country.
In a joint statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the National Immigration Administration said the travel ban will begin at midnight March 28, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
The travel restriction will also cover holders of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Cards as well as port visas and visa-free transit policies through some Chinese cities.
However, entry of foreign nationals such as diplomatic service, courtesy or C visas will not be affected.
Foreign nationals travelling to the Asian country with official and necessary activities such as economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or out of emergency humanitarian needs is still allowed and may apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates, according to the Chinese Foreign ministry.
“The suspension is a temporary measure that China is compelled to take in light of the outbreak situation and the practices of other countries,” the statement read.
“China will stay in close touch with all sides and properly handle personnel exchanges with the rest of the world under the special circumstances,” it added.
The move came as China has eased its lockdown measures in Wuhan, the previous epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown is projected to be lifted by April 8.
China imposed stricter preventive measures against the second wave of coronavirus outbreak and cross-border transmission as the National Health Commission recorded an increasing number of imported cases of COVID-19 from travelers returning in the country.
Local airlines were ordered to fly a single route to any country and limited to one flight every week, reducing the international flights sharply by 90 percent.
Beijing reported 153 imported cases followed by Shanghai, which registered 129 imported cases of COVID-19.
The coronavirus pandemic, which has infected 500,000 people and caused 23,000 fatalities, originated in Hubei province in China.
