Thanks to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, those who wished to hold their wedding in Beijing or other areas in China started to finalise their plans. Unfortunately, those couples need to postpone their plans once again due to new protocols.
Authorities in Beijing, China, banned hotels from hosting weddings and banquets due to the recent COVID-19 updates in the city. They decided to implement new guidelines tightening the restrictions on group gatherings.
It has been already two and a half years since the pandemic emerged in China. A lot of things have changed, especially in people’s daily lives. Aside from that, the way people plan, arrange and celebrate their weddings changed along with the times.
In this article, you’ll read:
- Here’s Why You Can’t Hold Your Dream Beijing Wedding
- Latest COVID-19 Guidelines in Beijing
- Things to Note Before Attending Group Gatherings
Here’s Why You Can’t Hold Your Dream Beijing Wedding
Planning a wedding nowadays could be more complicated than pre-pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, couples planning to get married face lots of demands and restrictions.
This happens specifically to hotels in the Chinese capital. According to reports, hotels in Beijing, China, cannot currently host your dream wedding or banquet.
Recently, authorities in Beijing announced a citywide ban on hotels hosting weddings and banquets. They are not allowing group gatherings due to a small surge in COVID-19 cases in other places inside China.
In recent weeks, there have been only a few cases of COVID-19 in Beijing. Despite this, officials still decided to issue a new version of its epidemic prevention. They then released control guidelines for hotels tightening control gatherings.
Due to the new COVID-19 restrictions in the area, hotels in the city are required to restrict the number of activities. Currently, they are also not allowed to host meetings, conferences, or training sessions.
Additionally, the new COVID-19 restrictions are not just applicable to hotels. These guidelines also restrict the community and people planning to attend events. Because of this, you also can’t plan an outdoor Beijing wedding as an alternative.
Image Source: iStock
Latest COVID-19 Guidelines in Beijing
In the new COVID-19 guidelines in the city, people who come from a district or country with active cases in the past ten days are not allowed to attend events in hotels.
When people outside Beijing attend a hotel event, people will be subject to a closed loop system.
While these new guidelines aim to prevent the virus from spreading, some people are not satisfied with them. Several social media users in China expressed their dissatisfaction and concerns about it.
Some netizens even asked why it is hard to have a wedding in Beijing, China. A local user responded by saying that the celebration of a sibling was moved because of the current restrictions.
Other people are not just concerned about weddings but also business operations. They relate not allowing hotels to hold banquets to not allowing dine-in or business operations. The new restriction poses a challenging situation for many.
COVID-19 Updates in Beijing
The number of active cases in the city remains low.
On the 18th of July 2022, an international flight crew staff tested positive for COVID-19 with their spouse. It broke Beijing’s seven-day streak of no new cases.
Moreover, officials recorded another positive case in the city the following day. The capital remains on high alert ahead of the upcoming Communist Party congress later this year.
Recent Updates in the Other Areas
According to reports, the Chinese mainland recently recorded a total of 935 local cases. It includes 827 asymptomatic infections across ten provinces in the country.
The authorities recorded most cases of COVID-19 in Guangxi and Gansu. Recently, the Guangxi region in southern China reported 277 infections.
Beihai is a popular tourist city in Guanxi. At present, they recorded almost 1,000 positive cases in total over the last eight days.
On the other hand, Gansu province in northwest China reported more than 1,300 cases in the last 12 days. Additionally, the area has the highest number of medium and high-risk areas in the country.
Image Source: iStock
Things to Note Before Attending Group Gatherings
While you need to postpone your Beijing wedding plans, you also need to remain cautious in attending other gatherings. Remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. Furthermore, we must remain vigilant to prepare for other outbreaks such as the ongoing monkeypox spread.
If you plan to attend a group gathering, it is essential to ensure the event will be as safe as possible. Here are a few things for you to consider:
- Complete your vaccination and booster shots. If you are still not vaccinated, you need to finish your COVID-19 vaccination before attending the event.
- Stay vigilant in travelling safely. Always follow public protocols and maintain social distancing when necessary. Additionally, continue wearing your mask, especially when using public transportation.
- Remain cautious when with your group. Once you’re at the gathering, you need to mind your safety as well as others. Don’t take off your mask unless you’re eating or at a safe distance away from other people.