China’s vigilance trashes travel plans

Beijing – The travel plans of millions were thrown into disarray yesterday by cancelled trains, flights and Chinese government “advice” to stay at home ahead of the Lunar New Year, a sign of China’s determination to keep virus cases low at all costs.

The capital Beijing is in the grip of a “complex Covid-19 situation”, city health authorities warned yesterday, as the start of the 40day peak travel period began for the Lunar New Year holiday.

The festival, for many Chinese people the only opportunity to see relatives in the year, sees the world’s biggest annual human movement as hundreds of millions criss-cross the country.

But with cases on the rise, authorities are hemming in movement with a complex web of localised lockdowns, virus tests, transport restrictions and vaguely worded travel advice.

China has not issued a stay-athome order, but is instead making travel all but unfeasible and requesting cooperation from its vast population.

That is especially the case in Beijing, where the Communist Party’s annual showpiece gathering of the National People’s Congress is set to be held in March.

“People in the capital city are urged to avoid unnecessary outbound trips and gatherings,” Beijing’s health authority said.

“In response to the complex Covid-19 situation in Beijing, the authorities have proposed that residents stay put” during the holiday, the report added.