Lunar New Year worries - 2nd February 2022

China is celebrating the Lunar New Year. Large crowds are at train stations as people return to their hometowns to spend the holidays. They're visiting family they haven't seen since the pandemic began two years ago.

Shao: "Naturally we're a little worried, but we did some research and I know we're not in the mid-high risk area, so we really hope to be able to go home and be with our family. "

Although travel to and from Shanghai is currently allowed, in other regions there are strict lockdowns. In Xi'an city, people have been in lockdown since early January, when people weren’t even allowed to go food shopping.

People who are travelling still face strict testing rules. Chen is heading to see her parents for the holidays.

Chen: "24 hours before leaving Shanghai, I need to do a Covid test. After arriving home, I need to do a test within 24 hours. And there are new rules this year that 48 hours before coming back to Shanghai I need to do a test. Then after arriving in Shanghai, another test. Then, another test within 48 hours of returning to work. So, even though I'm going home for only five days, I need to do five Covid tests. "

China is hosting the Winter Olympics which are due to begin during the holidays. Officials are very cautious as they want to avoid another Covid-19 outbreak at the games. But, scientists in the country believe the rules could be relaxed because 85 percent of the population has been vaccinated and Covid-19 cases are low.

However, the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China and Southeast Asian countries. This means large crowds at stations across the region as people head to see family.