New COVID controls on travel, cargo ahead of holidays

China's transport authorities have tightened epidemic controls on passenger movements and boosted cargo shipments ahead of New Year and the Spring Festival, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Transport said on Monday.

No public transportation will be available to those hoping to enter Beijing from land border counties or any county-level region that has had even a single confirmed case of COVID-19 within 14 days, Zhou Min, deputy director of the ministry's emergency response office, told a news conference on Monday.

All travelers are required to present a green Beijing health code and negative nucleic test taken within 48 hours in order to board public transport headed to the capital.

Passengers are also required to have a negative nucleic test taken within 48 hours to leave land border cities.

The ministry has coordinated with transport networks to ensure the resurgence of the virus does not affect availability of daily necessities and supplies.

Zhou encouraged people to avoid travel on peak days and crowded areas to keep safe.

The Spring Festival falls on Feb 1. Before the pandemic, it constituted the largest annual human migration in the world and was a major annual logistical challenge.