Prisons in China Ease Rules for Visiting Inmates

Prisons and detention centers in at least 10 provinces are relaxing their pandemic controls and gradually resuming on-site meetings between detainees and their relatives and guardians, as China shifts away from its hardline “zero-Covid” policy.

Provincial prison administrations in Eastern China’s Anhui and Ningxia Hui autonomous region in the northwest, issued statements this month to allow family members to visit inmates in person as long as they have a valid 48-hour negative PCR test result. A negative rapid antigen test result upon arrival is also acceptable in Anhui. Masks are required during visits.