According to the Standard Club, after recent reports regarding the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in China, the club is advised that there is currently no consistent quarantine policy implemented across all Chinese regions.
As Christina Adamopoulou, Claims Executive, Standard Club, explains, most regional policies provide for stricter measures for people arriving in the relevant region from abroad or from high-risk areas in China.
There is no quarantine requirement for people originating from a low-risk area
However, Ms. Adamopoulou notes that China is expected to relax the strict measures currently in place following the issue of a new regulation by the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Group of the State Council on 11 November 2022.
More specifically, The “Notice on Further Optimizing Epidemic Prevention and Control Measures in a Scientific and Precise Manner”, provides 20 measures aiming to regulate and relax the current policy.
By way of an example, the quarantine period is being shortened to a 5-day quarantine at a designated facility and a further 3-day house quarantine compared to the original 7-day quarantine at a designated facility
The amended quarantine policy is not applicable to the sign-off of crew members at Chinese ports. For any sign off, an application needs to be submitted before competent authorities seeking authorisation.
Nevertheless, Standard Club highlights that such applications are scrutinised and only approved under certain conditions, such in cases of life-threatening illness or injury.
Similar to the quarantine policy, there is no uniform policy across China and Chinese ports in relation to crew sign-off applications.
What is more, the UK Club, further informed that nucleic tests requirements in some cases are lifted, and restrictions on personnel entering ports are reduced to some extent.
Some key points related to international vessels are as follows:
- Seafarers’ COVID-19 test results will be not required before vessels calling;
- Loading or discharging operation can only be proceeded in a safe manner on the premise that vessel accepted quarantine by the Customs, obtained quarantine certification materials and letters of commitment for crews ‘health condition was submitted by the shipping company or its agent’;
- Port operation for domestic trade will no longer restrict port operation personnel to board the ship or ship’s crew to enter the port operation area. However, for ships on international voyages, the measures of “avoiding unnecessary embarkation” by port operation personnel and “avoiding unnecessary disembarkation” by ship’s crew shall be adopted.
