China optimizes COVID-19 response in transportation sector

China has implemented a range of adjustments to rules, to improve COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the transportation sector.

The country will scrap closed-loop management requirements for freight vehicles, and local authorities should not implement excessive measures to restrict the cross-regional movement of such vehicles, according to a circular released by the State Council on Friday.

COVID checkpoints will be removed on highways and waterways and at navigation locks. Checks of negative PCR results and health codes of truck drivers and ship crew will be scrapped.

Truck drivers won't need to undergo PCR tests after they arrive in another province or region.

The arbitrary closure of transport and logistics infrastructure is strictly forbidden.

More efforts will be placed to monitor and coordinate between highway networks, railway stations, key ports, important waterways, airports and postal service hubs so that these key components can function normally.

When a person involved in the transport industry tests positive, a lockdown won't be imposed at his or her workplace, and the quarantine shouldn't be expanded to all co-workers, in order to ensure the smooth running of transport.

It's not allowed to pause or refuse crew changes of international vessels at will, and the sailors' legal interests and the normal operation of international marine logistics should be maintained.

Transportation and logistics personnel will be included in the "white lists" of local COVID-19 prevention and control, said the circular. It also called for efforts to better address the basic living needs of truck drivers, couriers, and crew members of ships.

The Ministry of Transport said it recently revised several guidelines to optimize COVID-19 responses concerning road freight, passenger transport, domestic cruises and other areas.

China has announced a new set of measures to optimize its epidemic controls, ranging from proposing home quarantine for mild and asymptomatic cases, to reducing nucleic acid tests to make it easier for people to travel and enter public venues.

The measures were introduced based on the latest epidemic situation and mutation of the virus, to contain the epidemic in a more science-based and targeted manner.