China National Day: After Kovid-19, millions of people are going on vacation at the same time

Hong Kong (CNN) – China is moving forward once again. With October 1 approaching, millions of people are expected to pack highways, trains and planes for the National Day holiday, the busiest time to travel in the world’s most populous country.

But so far, the virus is far less of a concern for Chinese holidaymakers, with China considering zero local transmission and some of the world’s strictest border control measures.

Chen Qianmei, 29, of the southern city of Guangzhou, went to Shanghai on vacation on Tuesday. He said he was not worried about the virus, although he was still cautious.

“I think China (the virus) is under very good control,” he said. “I wear a mask and bring alcohol wipes to clean my hands, especially before eating – although in Shanghai, fewer people wear masks now.”

Show confidence

The coronavirus, which was found in the central Chinese city of Wuhan last December before spreading around the world, has been contained in China since March. In the months that followed, small-scale outbreaks have occasionally erupted – from the country’s northeast to the capital Beijing and the far western region of Xinjiang, but they were all quickly covered by tight lockdown measures and mass testing programs.

China has not reported any cases of the disease transmitted locally since the midst of Gust, and is strictly investigating foreign arrivals and workers at risk of exposure to the virus. Last week, it detected its first local asymptomatic infection in a month, after two port workers unloaded frozen imported seafood in Qingdao, testing positive for the virus in routine checkups.

The lunar New Year holiday in late January – China’s last major travel period – is in stark contrast to the anxiety and a sense of control over the haphazard. At the time, a coronavirus outbreak broke out in Wuhan after local officials initially silenced healthcare workers trying to sound the alarm. Two days before Lunar New Year’s Day, the Chinese government ordered an unprecedented lockdown on the city, but by then, the virus had already spread to other provinces and the country, as millions of Chinese people went or took home for family reunification. Holidays abroad.

But the center still recommends passengers follow local epidemic control measures, wear masks on trains, flights and crowded places, and keep a distance of 1-meter (3..3 feet) in tourist spots – the last of which is not impossible to observe. As difficult as it may be, the Chinese have often given the size of crowds drowning popular sites during the holidays.

Last week, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism ordered tourist destinations to limit capacity to 75% during the Golden Week, which is more than the 0% limit compared to the previous month. To facilitate contact tracing, visitors need to register online in advance.

Increase domestic travel

Chinese officials, including the Chinese CDC and the Foreign Ministry, have urged Chinese nationals to avoid unnecessary foreign travel, citing a stable epidemic around the world.

But this year, due to various visa restrictions and various worldwide requirements, as well as the lack of international flights, it will become practically impossible to travel abroad. After returning to China, travelers must face a strict two-week quarantine – spending at least half the time in government-designated hotels.

The only exception is Macau, which waived different requirements in July for Melandland travelers who received a negative test result for coronavirus within seven days. Last week, mainland China fully introduced tourist visas for the semi-autonomous region, just in time for the national holiday.