Many Chinese cities have upgraded their COVID-19 prevention measures in response to the latest outbreaks around the country caused by the Delta variant. These measures include performing multiple rounds of nucleic acid testing and implementing travel curbs.

To protect lives and mitigate the impact of the pandemic on tourism, the Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has reminded local residents not to travel to places designated as medium- and high-risk COVID-19 areas. People should also not travel outside the province unless necessary.

The Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism has the following advice for travelers.

• Make appointments before visits and plan routes in advance. Before travel, people should carefully assess the epidemic risk of their destination, and learn about the latest epidemic prevention and control policies of their destination through authoritative channels.

  In particular, travelers should learn about the measures, such as ticket reservations and time-specific tours for cultural tourism sites, taken by scenic spots and cultural venues.

• Travel only within the province or surrounding areas. Do not leave Shandong unless necessary.

  People should avoid unnecessary travel and refrain from making trips to high- and medium-risk areas. Trips to suburbs and short trips are recommended.

• Avoid gatherings and plan itineraries to avoid peak periods.

• Tourists are urged to take self-protection measures including wearing masks and washing their hands frequently, as well as maintaining social distancing when taking transportation and visiting parks. The use of serving chopsticks and spoons during meals is also recommended.

• If tourists develop symptoms such as fever, cough and lethargy, they should report their conditions as soon as possible and visit medical institutions for treatment. Avoid taking public transportation to the hospital.