Some of the estimated 80,000 tourists stranded on the tropical island of Hainan in southern China due to a Covid outbreak will be able to leave in the coming days, but others will still have to wait, authorities said on Tuesday.
Nicknamed “Chinese Hawaii” and popular with surfers, the island is facing its worst spike in cases in two years, with more than 1,500 people testing positive between August 1 and 9 in the resort city of Sanya, they show. the official figures.
As a result, all flights from Hainan were cancelled, stranding tens of thousands of tourists there.
Local health authorities said on Tuesday that “tourists on package tours in areas where there have been no cases … will be able to leave after giving two negative tests within 48 hours.”
Tested negative three times in 72 hours
Travelers in areas with a low number of cases will be able to leave the island if they have tested negative three times in 72 hours and show no symptoms.
But those in areas with more cases will have to wait for the health situation to improve.
Sanya hotels must offer guests a 50% discount until restrictions are lifted, officials said on Saturday.
Karaoke bars and closed bars
In the city, public entertainment venues such as spas, karaoke bars and bars have been closed since last week, but essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies remain open.
Several matches of the Chinese soccer championship, scheduled for the next few days in Haikou, the island’s capital, have been postponed indefinitely.
“Due to the repercussions of the epidemic in Haikou, some matches cannot be played as scheduled,” the Chinese Football Association said.
About a third of the Chinese teams are currently in Haikou, having played other matches there, and will not be able to leave immediately, according to state media.
Zero Covid Strategy
Chinese football has been hit hard by the pandemic for the past two years, with most clubs having to play in empty stadiums due to health regulations.
China is the only major economy that continues to pursue a zero covid strategy, imposing lockdowns and lengthy quarantines that penalize local tourism.
The country’s borders have been almost completely closed since the beginning of 2020, preventing the entry of most foreign visitors.
Source: BFM TV
