According to two sources familiar with the situation, the US diplomatic mission in China has formally requested that the State Department grant American diplomats “approved departure,” allowing them and their families to leave the country amid increasingly strict Covid-19 containment measures.
According to officials who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity, the State Department has not yet authorized the request.
An “authorized departure” allows US embassy and consular officials and their families to leave China for a period of time until they feel safe enough to return, but it is not a mandatory evacuation like an “ordered departure.”
China is one of the few countries in the world that still has a zero-Covid policy, which attempts to eradicate all instances inside its borders.
Authorities have seen many outbreaks around the country since the advent of Omicron, leading local officials to adopt mass testing, severe lockdowns, contact tracking, and new movement restrictions. People caught in snap lockdowns in certain places have been compelled to stay in office buildings and retail malls for days until everyone inside has tested negative.
In the event of quarantine, the US diplomatic mission in China has reached an agreement with the Chinese Foreign Ministry that allows parents to stay with small children. However, there is growing concern that China’s main health authorities may decide to disregard the deal.
Source: msn.com
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