China to resume issuing passports, visas as virus curbs ease

By JOE McDONALD
Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) — China will resume issuing passports for tourism in another big step away from anti-virus controls that isolated the country for almost three years. That sets up a potential flood of millions of Chinese going abroad for next month’s Lunar New Year holiday even though infections are surging in China. The country is rolling back some of the world’s strictest anti-virus controls, which kept China’s infections low but fueled public frustration and crushed economic growth. Some potential destinations such as the United States, Japan and South Korea have announced they will require virus tests for visitors from China.