China has tightened the rules on international flights with immediate effect

China has tightened the rules on international flights with immediate effect

China will suspend international flights to airlines if at least five people have tested positive for coronavirus after landing. The Chinese Civil Aviation Authority said this in a statement announced by CNN on Wednesday. The new rules stipulate that if five or more passengers have a positive test for COVID-19 after arriving in China, the airline will be banned from operating these flights for two weeks. If the number of positives is ten or more, the suspension of flights will last up to four weeks. After this period expires, airlines will be able to resume operations limited to one flight on a given route per week. The previous rules provided for a one-week flight interruption if five or more people tested positive. Stricter measures apply with immediate effect. On Tuesday, the Chinese Civil Aviation Authority ordered a week's suspension of flights for Ethiopian Airlines, Russia's Pegas Fly and Swiss International Air Lines.