1. In order to prevent infection from long-distance travel after testing, starting from December 23, 2020, passengers traveling to China must take both COVID-19 nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests within 48 hours (2 days) prior to the direct China-bound flight. Test samples must be collected at the departure city and vicinity of the China-bound flight. Upon receiving the test reports, passengers need to apply for a health code from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General (based on consular jurisdiction of the departure city of the China-bound flight), travel before it expires and be prepared for checking by the airlines before boarding.

2. Foreign passengers can apply for health code at https://hrhk.cs.mfa.gov.cn/H5/.

3. The Chinese Consulate General in New York is responsible for issuing health code of passengers taking China Eastern Airline flight MU 588 (New York→Shanghai).

4. Samples must be collected and tested at a laboratory institution accepted by the Chinese Consulate General in New York (for the New York flight, See Appendix 1). Please give consent to the sampling agency and testing laboratory to disclose the test results and other personal information to the Consulate. The Consulate will contact the issuing agency to verify the authenticity of all the submitted reports and certificates. If any of them cannot be verified, or contain false information, or are deemed altered or forged, the health code will not be issued.

5. If passengers are vaccinated, they need to be fully vaccinated before planning a trip to China, i.e. 14 days after the last required shot. For example, if you take the last required shot on September 10, the COVID-19 nucleic acid and IgM antibody test sampling date should be on or after September 25.

6. For passengers who test negative for nucleic acid, while positive for IgM antibody due to COVID-19 vaccination, please refer to the following requirement:

(1) For passengers vaccinated with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, please submit "Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination" (see Appendix 2) and the vaccination certificate.

(2) For passengers vaccinated with non-inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, please submit a report of COVID-19 IgM antibody test against N protein, Letter of Commitment on COVID-19 Vaccination (see Appendix 2), COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card issued by CDC and other vaccination certificate issued by local government or vaccination institute.

7. If you have a COVID-19 infection history, or once tested positive in either COVID-19 nucleic acid or IgM serum antibody test (not due to vaccination), please refer to the following requirement:

(1) After full recovery, take COVID-19 nucleic acid tests twice with a sampling interval of over 24 hours at a laboratory institution accepted by the Consulate. Take a lung CT scan or X-ray at a local eligible medical agency. Submit the reports of lung CT or X ray examination and both nucleic acid tests to the Consulate via Email: 12308nyhs@gmail.com. Please note the lung CT or X ray examination and both nucleic acid tests need to be conducted (sampled) within 3 days before submitting to the Consulate for a Pre-approval.

(2) Upon approval of the Consulate, continue to conduct a 14-day self-quarantine and health monitoring, fill in the "Personal Health Monitoring Form" (See Appendix 3) faithfully.

(3) Upload the "Personal Health Monitoring Form" together with all other necessary documents when applying for a health code.

8. For passengers who intend to take transfer flights to China, please refer to the following requirement:

(1) The Consulate does not issue health code for passengers who fly from the U.S. to China by transiting in a third country (region).

(2) If there is a direct flight between your departing country and China, please don't transfer via New York. The Consulate does not issue health code for any such passengers.

(3) If there's no direct flight between your departing country and China:

A. You should take a direct flight to New York from the departing country and take a direct flight from New York to China.

B. You should take both nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests at the departing country, and get a valid health code from relevant Chinese embassies or Consulates before flying to New York.

C. You should take nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests in New York within 2 days of of the China-bound flight. When applying for a health code, please upload an itinerary from the departing country to New York, valid U.S. visa (or other lawful permit), the health code issued by relevant Chinese embassy or Consulates in your departing country.

9. When should I be tested? For example, if your direct China-bound flight date is November 19th, the sampling date for both COVID-19 nucleic acid and IgM serum antibody tests should be between November 17 and 19.

10. Do babies and toddlers need to be tested? Babies and toddlers under the age of 3 do not need to be tested or apply for a health code.

11. Am I sure to get a health code if I apply as required? Not necessarily. To ensure the health and safety of international travel and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission of COVID-19, the Consulate will decide based on a comprehensive review. Please plan your trip accordingly.

12. Please pay close attention to the Consulate website for the latest updates on health code requirement for passengers taking direct China-bound flight departing from New York.