Airport and airline staff in parts of China will be subjected to stricter quarantine measures in response to the spread of the Delta variant. Some staff could be forced into mandatory isolation for up to 28 days, as China struggles to contain the virus.
China has seen a concerning surge in Delta cases over the past few weeks, with over half of the 34 provinces and regions in the country reporting cases. In response, aviation authorities are enforcing stricter quarantine measures for staff and crew. New quarantine rules could see staff, which includes airline crews and ground staff, handed quarantines of up to 28 days.
While China’s aviation authority, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), has yet to revise its nationwide rules, regional authorities are bringing tougher measures into force. For example, in Hubei province, authorities are introducing a four-tier risk assessment system for airline crew operating on international routes.
The Delta variant outbreak has been traced to a particular event in Nanjing involving airport staff. Airport employees cleaned a Russian aircraft on July 10th before traveling onwards and spreading the virus. It is believed to have first spread around Zhangjiajie, a tourist city, before eventually reaching Beijing.
