Rospotrebnadzor head orders that epidemiological control continue on Russian border as China changes travel rules

MOSCOW. Jan 10 (Interfax) - Head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) Anna Popova has ordered that epidemiological control continue on the Russian border as China has changed travel rules, Rospotrebnadzor's press service said in a statement.

"At the end of the meeting, Anna Popova ordered that control be continued at border checkpoints amid changed travel rules for Chinese citizens," the press service said following Popova's teleconference with heads of Rospotrebnadzor territorial divisions and institutions.

The Covid-19 situation in Russia "is quite stable," the press service said.

"Slightly less than 22,000 cases were registered in Russia on the first week of 2023. The incidence rate went down 40% week-on-week," it said.

Ninety-nine percent of all cases recorded over the past week were identified as the Omicron variant.

The Chinese authorities are lifting international travel restrictions, which have been in effect since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Persons arriving in China since January 8 need a negative test for Covid-19 but do not have to quarantine. Besides, China resumed the issuance of regular visas and temporary residence permits on Sunday.