China is facing a new coronavirus flare-up along its remote northern border with Russia, where businesses are usually thriving with Russian visitors starved for choice on their side of the border.
This April 10, 2020, photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency shows laborers wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the new coronavirus at an office building being converted into a temporary hospital in Suifenhe in northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province. China is facing a new coronavirus flare-up along its remote northern border with Russia, far from the epicenter of Wuhan where it has all but declared victory in the battle against the pandemic.
The long, porous border of sprawling Heilongjiang province and neighboring Inner Mongolia has much less travel than major cities like Beijing and Shanghai. But it is a popular alternative route into the country. Many Chinese live and work in Russia, where China has major investments encouraged by warm ties between Beijing and Moscow.
“We are facing a truly grave situation in the northeast as represented by Suifenhe,” National Health Commission expert Wang Bin said Monday at a news conference. “Up to now our medical resources in the area have just not been sufficient.” Russia requires 14-day quarantines for all travelers arriving in Primorsky Krai and its regional capital Pogranichny, across the border. It has closed hotels to visitors and is requiring travelers to have a pass showing they are not carrying the virus. Russia closed its land border to travelers from China in January.
As Wuhan and other regions get back to business, Chinese authorities say they will remain vigilant against a second wave of infections, particularly from those arriving from outside the country.
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