China pauses passport renewals to try to keep COVID-19 Delta variant out

China has stopped issuing and renewing passports for non-urgent purposes to try to minimise travel amid the rapid spread of coronavirus variants.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. In the first six months of the year, more than 67 million passengers and 7.5 million vehicles entered and left border control points across the country. Authorities processed more than 1.22 million travel documents for Chinese nationals and more than 3 million travel permits for Hong Kong and Macau, Chen said.

"They asked me to write a report stating my circumstances along with the examination permit but I can't even apply for the exam without a valid passport. After rounds of this bureaucratic conundrum, they told me to send them the CFA examination guidelines, which I did two days ago and I still haven't heard back from them," the applicant said.

The aim is to keep imported cases at bay while authorities press on with a vaccination drive at home to reach herd immunity, the point where enough people are inoculated that transmission is limited. "Wouldn't it be possible to roll out a similar, very safe arrangement for foreigners who wish to enter China, people who would be willing to pay the cost and comply with the safety measures, But so far, many of them simply don't have the chance to come to China."

Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

DOH: Still no community transmission of COVID-19 Delta variant detected in PHThe Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said there is still no community transmission of the Delta variant in the Philippines despite an increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the country. Toinks Talaga b? Ha?
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

China logs 64 new COVID-19 cases as Delta resurgence continues in NanjingChina reported on Friday 64 new coronavirus cases in the mainland for July 29, compared with 49 cases a day earlier, the health authority said.
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

Vietnam taps private hospitals as Delta-driven COVID-19 infections riseVietnam’s health ministry issued an urgent appeal on Friday for private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients as the Southeast Asian country battles a surge in infections driven by the highly contagious Delta variant.
Source: inquirerdotnet - 🏆 3. / 86 Read more »

Asian nations impose stricter COVID-19 restrictions due to Delta outbreaksAsian countries from Australia to Japan and the Philippines announced tighter COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, as they battle worsening coronavirus outbreaks, driven by the more contagious Delta variant.
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Pasig confirms 2 active COVID-19 Delta variant cases, 5 others have recoveredPasig City on Thursday confirmed that there are 2 active Delta variant cases in the National Capital Region's (NCR) 5th most populous city.
Source: ABSCBNNews - 🏆 5. / 83 Read more »

Pasig confirms 2 active COVID-19 Delta variant cases, 5 others have recoveredPasig City on Thursday confirmed that there are 2 active Delta variant cases in the National Capital Region's (NCR) 5th most populous city.
Source: ANCALERTS - 🏆 26. / 50 Read more »