China's coronavirus outbreak leaves foreign nationals in limbo

Source: The Guardian

February 20, 2020 at 08:47

The UK Foreign Office has advised the 30,000 British nationals in China to leave the country if possible. Photograph: May James/Sopa/Rex/Shutterstock

Travel restrictions leave many stranded, while those with flights booked await refunds

Foreign nationals who live in China or planned to visit say they have been left in limbo as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, with many unsure of when they can return to work or get a refund for their trip.

Those who live and work in the country said travel restrictions had left them stranded and unable to return home, while people planning to visit the country could lose hundreds of pounds.

This month the UK Foreign Office advised the 30,000 British nationals in China to leave if possible and warned against all but essential travel to the mainland. The British consulates general in Wuhan and Chongqing remain closed.

British Airways, which has suspended flights to Beijing and Shanghai until 31 March, is one of nearly a dozen airlines to restrict travel to China.

Peter Hughes, a British lecturer at a university in Henan province, which is near Wuhan, had flown to the UK to see his family and friends in early January. He said he had received no information from his university or any airlines about his prospects of returning home.

Hughes, who realised he could not return home when he saw on Sky News that Virgin and BA had suspended flights to mainland China, said: “Nobody knows what is going on. I’m in total limbo because of a lack of any information.”

His employers told him to not book a flight back but to instead enjoy an extended holiday. However, they have yet to provide any further information. “I am just one in 1,000. There are so many foreign teachers in China who are in the same position,” he said.

Karel Frederik Bruwer, a teacher living and working in Shenzhen in the south-east, said he went on holiday to visit family and friends in Mpumalanga, in his home country of South Africa, on 22 January and was still there.

He has not received any information on when he can return. His offices are shut until 1 March and he is insure what will happen next. Like many other companies and schools, he has been asked to register for online classes.

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