Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) globally, China announced to take temporary measures to ban the entry by foreigners who hold valid Chinese visas or residence permits. The announcement has been effective since 0 a.m., March 28, 2020, and it is still not clear when the ban will stop though the Chinese government said another announcement would be declared according to the evolving situation. 
 

Technically, since March 28, 2020, all the valid Chinese tourist visas, business visas or residence permits are suspended including the APEC Business Travel Cards.
 

Yes, all the visa-free transit policies are banned now, including:
24-hour visa-free transit,
72-hour visa-free transit,
144-hour visa-free transit,
Shanghai 15-day visa-free policy for cruise tour groups
Hainan 30-day visa-free access
 

Visitors who hold diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas can enter China without affection. People who have necessary economic, trade, scientific or technological activities or emergency needs to come to China need to apply for new visas from the Chinese embassy. The entry with this kind of visa issued after March 28 will be allowed.  
 

The visa policy is only temporarily issued because of the worldwide coronavirus outbreak situation and other countries’ practices. The Chinese government will cancel the suspension according to the evolving situation under the global pandemic circumstances. TCG will keep attention to the announcement and update it accordingly to offer the latest news.
 

This is a new coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, China in late 2019, which is highly similar to the SARS and MERS coronaviruses, causing an outbreak of respiratory illness. Known as COVID-19 coronavirus, it can pass from person to person and then has spread across China and all over the world. Now it has become a global pandemic. So far, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 800,000 people (809,608) worldwide, resulting in 39,545 deaths (according to the data of April 1, 2020). The United States, Italy and Spain have been the top 3 countries with the most confirmed cases while Germany, Iran, France, the United Kingdom are also hit seriously by the virus.
 

The most common symptoms are sore throat, fever, coughing, respiratory infection and difficulty in breathing.
 
The best way to prevent the illness is to keep social distance and avoid being exposed to this virus. What’s more, wearing surgical masks, washing hands with a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol are effective precaution measures. Do remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when someone is coughing and sneezing.
 

Although China was hit seriously by COVID-19 Coronavirus in the last 2 months, especially the originating place Wuhan City and Hubei Province, the country has gradually bounced back from the virus through strict anti-epidemic prevention measures. Since late March, the virus spread has been contained. There are only a few dozens of new confirmed cases and most of them are from overseas. In some provinces and regions like Tibet and Qinghai, there are no new cases reported in at least 50 consecutive days. Also, more and more Chinese attractions have been reopened since late March due to the China’s coronavirus downturn. Thus, with a low coronavirus risk, China is safe enough to visit in April as long as travelers take precautions.