China has temporarily barred foreign nationals traveling from Canada from Monday with the country's consulate in Toronto saying that even those holding Chinese residence and work permits will not be allowed to enter the country starting this week.
The Chinese consulate said that only those with diplomatic and service visas traveling from Canada will be allowed to enter. Those that are allowed to enter will be subjected to stringent coronavirus protocols such as COVID-19 swab tests and mandatory quarantine, the consulate said.
"In view of the current Covid-19 situation and the need for epidemic prevention and control ... All foreign nationals who hold valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion are temporarily not allowed to enter China from Canada," the Chinese consulate said in a statement.
Canada has large ethnic Chinese populations in cities such as Vancouver and Toronto, many of whom regularly travel to Hong Kong or the mainland and particularly now with Lunar New Year celebrations ahead. China has encourgaed residents of major cities int he mainland not to travel domestically during the holiday from that run Feb. 11-17.
The consulate said that the drastic measure is necessary given the rising COVID-19 cases in Canada. China is accelerating its shutdown of cross-border travel from high-risk countries.
In Canada, health officials reported thousands of new cases over the weekend. The country reported a death toll of 19,942. Canada - with a population of around 38 million people - currently has more than 775,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The consulate said that the measure is only temporary and the Chinese government is only doing it as a precautionary measure in light of the recent rise in cases.
Canada has also started to tighten its borders following the surge in new coronavirus cases. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new guidelines late last week, which include mandatory quarantines for all airline passengers arriving in the country.
Passengers entering Canada will be required to take a COVID-19 test at the airport. They will also be required to wait for the results inside a hotel for around three days - at their expense. Trudeau said that travelers should prepare at least $2,000 to cover the cost of the hotels.
"With the challenges we currently face with COVID-19, both here at home and abroad, we all agree that now is just not the time to be flying," Trudeau said.
Passengers that get a negative result will be placed on home quarantine under "increased surveillance and enforcement." Those that get a positive result will immediately be taken to a designated government facility to make sure that they are not carriers of any mutated coronavirus strains.
