The latest update on Shanghai’s return home policy in 2022: What proof is required? Do I need to be quarantined after the lockdown is lifted?

At present, the epidemic situation in Shanghai has been effectively controlled and the situation continues to improve. Starting from June 1, the city will enter the third stage, which is the stage of fully restoring the normal production and living order in the city. So, what is the latest policy on returning home in Shanghai in 2022? What proof is required? Do I need to be quarantined after the lockdown is lifted?

1. The latest Shanghai return home policy in 2022: What proof is required?

1. Proof of Leaving Shanghai

Under the premise of complying with the epidemic prevention and control regulations, you can apply to the relevant units. After verification, the relevant unit will issue a certificate of leaving Shanghai. Relevant personnel can drive motor vehicles out of Shanghai with a Shanghai departure certificate and travel point-to-point to destinations in other provinces and cities. The Shanghai departure certificate is valid for 6 hours from the declared departure time. At the same time, it is strictly prohibited to hide and smuggle undocumented personnel, operate illegally and other illegal and irregular acts. Once discovered, the illegal and irregular acts will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

People who do not drive out of Shanghai also need to apply to the neighborhood committee and obtain a certificate of leaving Shanghai before they can travel across districts to the airport and train station. Regarding the issuance of a certificate of leaving Shanghai, please consult your local neighborhood committee.

2. Nucleic acid test certificate

In addition to holding a negative nucleic acid test certificate within 48 hours, people leaving Shanghai must also provide a negative antigen test certificate within 24 hours. The antigen test results are uploaded through the Yiceda mini program. If the nucleic acid test certificate is within 24 hours, the antigen test certificate can be waived.

Shanghai airports, docks, railway stations and highways will conduct checks on nucleic acid and antigen test results for people leaving Shanghai. Those who are unable to provide relevant supporting documents for nucleic acid and antigen testing will be persuaded to return on the spot and are not allowed to leave Shanghai.

3. Certificate of consent to return home

Before you leave Shanghai, you should report to your destination in advance. The Shanghai Return Home Certificate must be issued by the village committee or neighborhood committee of your hometown. After the receipt certificate is issued, you should go to the village committee or neighborhood committee in Shanghai to get a Shanghai Departure Certificate. You can go home with the Shanghai Departure Certificate. However, policies may vary in different regions, so everyone must consult the relevant requirements of the destination in advance. For example, on May 26, Hainan issued the latest notice: Based on the principle of those who are willing to return as much as possible, it agrees to accept stranded people in Shanghai who meet the conditions for leaving Shanghai to return to Hainan, and will no longer issue a "Certificate of Consent to Return Home" one by one.

2. Do I need to be quarantined when returning home after Shanghai is lifted from lockdown in 2022?

If all areas of Shanghai are unsealed, whether people need to be quarantined when returning home will depend on the epidemic prevention policies of the area. Generally, people coming to (or returning from) medium- or high-risk areas or cities where epidemics are occurring within 14 days should report to their community (village), unit or hotel as soon as possible. Centralized isolation and medical observation will be carried out for 14 days, and nucleic acid tests will be conducted on the 1st, 4th, 7th and 14th days respectively.

Note: It is recommended to consult the specific prevention and control policies of the destination before departure.

3. The latest regulations for people returning home from Shanghai

1. Hunan

People coming to (returning to) Changsha from Shanghai should report through the My Changsha APP or My Changsha mini program 2 days in advance, cooperate with various prevention and control work as required, hold a 48-hour negative nucleic acid test certificate when entering Changsha, and cooperate with closed-loop transfer. If you are not connected to the station or checkpoint transfer team after arriving in Changsha, please contact the reporting unit as soon as possible, take personal protection and wait for closed-loop transfer on the spot, and do not return to your destination on your own. After arriving in Changsha, you will be required to undergo 7 days of isolated medical observation and 7 days of home health monitoring.

2. Hubei

Different policies are implemented for different situations. First, people who live in Wuhan will be subject to 14 days of centralized isolation and 7 days of home health monitoring. People who live in cities other than Wuhan in Hubei Province will be subject to centralized isolation for 3 days. If all the results are negative, they will be sent by vehicles from the provincial cities and prefectures to the isolation point on the fourth day for closed-loop transfer back to their place of residence to continue centralized isolation. For those whose destination is outside Hubei Province, they must be quarantined for three days and only after all test results are negative can they purchase tickets and be transferred to the station or airport in a closed loop via the street where the quarantine point is located.

3. Chongqing

People coming to or returning to Chongqing from Shanghai will be subject to 7 days of centralized quarantine + 7 days of home quarantine (calculated from the time of leaving Shanghai, until 14 days; those who do not meet the conditions for home quarantine will be subject to centralized quarantine). During the centralized quarantine period, nucleic acid tests will be conducted once on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 7th days.

4. Guangdong

People coming to (or returning to) Heilongjiang from Shanghai recently must report in advance before returning to Heilongjiang, and the local prevention and control department will be responsible for point-to-point closed-loop pick-up.

5. Chongqing

People coming to or returning to Chongqing from Shanghai will be subject to 7 days of centralized quarantine + 7 days of home quarantine (calculated from the time of leaving Shanghai, until 14 days; those who do not meet the conditions for home quarantine will be subject to centralized quarantine). During the centralized quarantine period, nucleic acid tests will be conducted once on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 7th days.

6. Hainan

I have signed a letter of commitment to ensure that I am not a close contact, secondary close contact, or a person in a closed area. Conducted self-health monitoring for 14 days before coming to Hainan, checked body temperature daily, and found no abnormalities. You must present two negative nucleic acid test results within 48 hours to board a plane or other means of transportation, and your health code and travel code must be checked. In addition to meeting the above requirements, patients with COVID-19 who have recovered and been discharged from hospital can only purchase tickets and plan travel after completing home health monitoring as required after discharge. After arriving in Hainan, please proactively declare and produce discharge certificate and related supporting documents. After arriving in Hainan, 7+7 control measures will be implemented.

In summary, currently returning home from Shanghai requires a certificate of consent to return home, a certificate of leaving Shanghai, and a nucleic acid test certificate. Whether isolation is required after the lockdown is lifted depends on local requirements, so everyone must consult the relevant epidemic prevention policies of the destination in advance before leaving Shanghai.