The transport ministry is expecting travel numbers to rebound but warned of the challenge it faces in guaranteeing food and medicine supplies.
“:”China’s transport authorities expect to see “substantial growth” in the number of people travelling during Lunar New Year following the lifting of many Covid-19 restrictions , but have warned they face a daunting task in keeping passengers and vital supplies on the move amid an expected spike in infections . The Spring Festival falls on January 22 next year. The holiday typically sees the biggest annual human migration on earth , known as the chunyun. Ordinarily, people from all walks of life leave the big cities where they work and return to their hometowns and villages. More than 3 billion trips were recorded in 2019, but this fell to 1 billion trips this year as people were discouraged by Covid curbs and official calls to “reduce all unnecessary trips. But now many control measures – including mass PCR tests, quarantine and health codes – have been lifted, and the transport ministry’s website said it expected a surge in demand during the 40-day travel season that begins on January 7. Covid-19 outbreaks test China’s position at centre of global supply chain But the ministry warned the authorities face a major challenge in ensuring that key supplies – including food, medicines, coal and other resources – remain available as traffic increases and infections surge.
