Smooth transport essential for logistics, deliveries: Official

Smooth transportation is pledged to ensure necessities for households and industries amid a COVID-19 resurgence in many parts of China, Ministry of Transport official Wu Chungeng said on Tuesday.

It is prohibited to block road transportation or order additional nucleic acid tests for truck drivers to hinder transportation, he said at a news conference.

According to the ministry, truckers with negative nucleic acid tests taken within 48 hours, green health codes and normal body temperatures should be allowed to pass interprovincial checkpoints.

Truck drivers are also required to stay in a closed management bubble.

If their nucleic test results pass 48 hours when they arrive at destinations, an additional antigen test and a nucleic acid test can be carried out at the same time. If the antigen test result is negative, truckers should be allowed to leave at once. The ministry banned local governments to keep truckers waiting for nucleic acid test results. At the same time, a dynamic tracking system is also introduced. If a trucker's nucleic acid test result later turns out to be positive, the system will track the trucker and notify the closest epidemic control team to implement measures accordingly.

The ministry has also promoted the use of nationally recognized traffic permits. The permit has a unified format, recognized by local governments, easy to apply and valid at all checkpoints.

Logistics and transit hubs should be better used to ensure freight transfer and transportation, with closed-loop management required for personnel, Wu said.

China's logistics system relies heavily on road transportation. Supply crunches are being caused in some areas by stringent anti-COVID-19 travel and testing requirements, suspended expressway services and traffic congestion around roadside testing areas.