In the face of the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, the exit and entry departments of China's public security organs across the country thoroughly studied and implemented the President Xi Jinping's directives in his important speeches and instructions. In accordance with the deployment requirements of the National Immigration Administration (NIA) and under the direct leadership of the local Party committees, these departments have taken the initiative to do what is necessary to provide exit and entry services during the epidemic prevention and control, while effectively stemming spread of the epidemic via the exit and entry channels.

Proactively offering exit and entry information services. After the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 epidemic a public health emergency of international concern, some countries and regions have successively implemented temporary entry control measures on Chinese citizens. Lack of such information had caused personal losses to those planning to enter relevant countries or regions. In order to protect the vital rights of inbound and outbound travelers and eliminate their anxiety, NIA has reviewed and updated the entry control measures of relevant countries and regions and issued reminders to the public since January 29, 2020, and urgently developed and launched a dedicated mini-program to provide a relatively complete and accurate exit and entry information consultation.

The exit and entry departments of China's public security organs at all levels kept their telephone lines open for consultation services, and provided timely assistance to mainland residents, residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and foreign nationals regarding certificate and permit applications, exit and entry customs clearance, stay and residence during the epidemic. At the same time, various means of communication such as phone calls, text messages, WeChat messages, and online replies are adopted to actively remind and persuade mainland residents who have plans to leave the country.

The above measures have effectively reduced the spread of the epidemic across borders, and achieved the goal of "preventing the coronavirus from spreading within the region or beyond, and resolutely cutting off the route of virus transmission". One comment from the netizens says, " NIA has been updating the guidelines on restrictive measures of various countries every day during this outbreak. It's really convenient for us. Otherwise, many people would take the wrong path. What you have done is reassuring. You have encouraged people to stay at home, not panic blindly or leave the country. This has played an important role, directly or indirectly, in preventing the epidemic from spreading across borders. Give you a thumb-up. "

Orderly opening of exit and entry service windows. The outbreak occurred during the Chinese Spring Festival, which happened to be a peak period for application of exit and entry documents. In order to reduce cross-infection among the population, in accordance with the deployment requirements of NIA, Hubei Province immediately suspended the processing of ordinary passports and other exit and entry documents. The exit and entry departments of China's public security organs across the country opened exit and entry windows in a scientific and orderly manner based on the actual situation of local epidemic prevention and control work. After the Spring Festival holiday, 3,250 exit and entry service windows at or above the county level provided services for people who really needed to enter or leave the country, and 430,000 exit and entry documents, including regular passports, were issued.

In accordance with general arrangements for epidemic prevention and control made by local Party committees and governments and specific requirements of health departments, all local exit and entry forces did their utmost in internal cleaning and sanitation, such as ventilation and disinfection, of their office venues. Temperature detection equipment is equipped at the entrances to exit and entry service sites and personal protection measures like wearing masks and gloves are mandated for all staff. It has effectively ensured the safety and health of the police and the public. The Exit-Entry Administration of the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau of Guangdong Province has innovatively launched special services for applications without filling out forms or submitting original materials for the full-process contactless handling of 14 items in four major categories. Up to now, the exit and entry departments of China's public security organs across the country have reported zero case of COVID-19 infection and transmission via the exit and entry service windows.

Considerately providing exit and entry emergency services. The exit and entry departments of China's public security organs across the country have further improved the emergency service mechanism and provided special services for those who have urgent reasons to leave the country. Since the Spring Festival, public security departments across the country have handled 3,548 urgent exit and entry documents for applicants.

The exit and entry departments of China's public security organs at all levels in Hubei Province have opened green passages to provide emergency services for people from some countries and regions taking temporary charter flights. Mr. Yang and his wife, medical workers from Hunan Province, lost their passports in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Population and Exit & Entry Administration Bureau, Hunan Provincial Public Security Department provided emergency identity verification services, which helped them get their travel permits on the same day and return to China immediately to fight the epidemic.

The Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau expedited the handling of an ordinary passport for an applicant entrusted by a city's association of foreign investment enterprises, enabling his travel to Korea to purchase protective clothing and medical masks and other anti-epidemic materials to aid the epidemic-hit areas. A public security exit and entry service window was set up in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province as an emergency certificate handling site during the epidemic prevention and control period, and police have been assigned to form special teams to provide "one-stop" service for acceptance and review of applications, and certificate making. The Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of Public Security Department of Yunnan Province coordinated the urgent application of ordinary passports for 18 engineers from a local company to depart and participate in the inauguration of a large-scale project of foreign assistance.

Notice: The English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version.