Sunday, May 10, 2009

Traveling to China or Hong Kong? Expect Long Lines in Quarantine.

When we first arrived in Shanghai in 2004, we had to fill in a quarantine form and hand it in before immigration. SARS was over but the authorities were still taking precautions. A bored looking woman sat in a white coat behind the quarantine desk with a temperature monitor behind her and she collected the forms that people nearly threw at her. No one had to wait in line, the woman barely glanced at the forms; it was a formality.
With the current swine flu issue and the extreme precaution that China is taking, things are very different. Both in mainland airports and in Hong Kong, the quarantine station is in full action mode. You will be required to fill in a quarantine form that includes questions about your recent destinations and your recent health. The health professional behind the desk is checking every single document to ensure they have your name and address in China and this check is causing a delay in getting through to your luggage.

While this delay is annoying, especially when you’ve just gotten off a twelve-hour flight, it is for your own safety and the health safety of millions, that the authorities are being so careful. Grin and bare it, and book yourself a nice massage when you get to your hotel. Elderly, pregnant and traveling with children passengers, remember to look for the VIP lane once you get to the immigration lines. This will, at least, speed things up for you.

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