Passengers check in for a flight from Wuhan, Hubei province, to Beijing on June 9. [Photo/China Daily]

China's civil aviation regulator on July 10 issued its fourth "circuit-breaker" suspension of an international passenger flight of Air China, starting July 13 (next Monday).

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) today ordered a one-week suspension of a flight from Moscow, Russia to China's capital Beijing, whose first entry point was Shenyang. More than five passengers on the July 4 flight from Moscow to Beijing tested positive for the novel coronavirus, meeting the conditions for a "circuit breaker" suspension of a flight route, the CAAC said in a statement.

Air Busan plans to resume Incheon-Shenzhen flight

A China Southern airliner takes off at the Shenzhen airport on February 27, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]

South Korea's Air Busan announced yesterday that it is planning to resume the "Incheon-Shenzhen" passenger flight from July 17, subject to approval of China's aviation regulator, according to local media.

The airlines intends to offer daily service between Incheon and Shenzhen every Friday—departing from Incheon at 7:50 a.m. and arriving at Shenzhen at 11:20 a.m.; and departing from Shenzhen at 12:50 p.m. and arriving at Incheon at 5:15 p.m. the same day.

International flights of Air Busan have been suspended in early March due to epidemic concerns.

Apart from Air Busan, Asiana Airlines also announced the reopening of "Incheon-Nanjing" route starting July 12 (this Sunday).

Hong Kong to start summer vacation earlier as local COVID-19 cases surge

Chinese mainland on Thursday (July 9) reported four new cases, all from overseas, including one each in Shanghai, Shanxi and Liaoning provinces, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Guangdong recorded no new cases nor new asymptomatic carriers yesterday.

Hong Kong on Thursday reported 42 new cases of COVID-19, including 34 local cases, raising the total confirmed cases to 1,365.

Hong Kong's secondary and primary schools and kindergartens will begin summer vacation next Monday as the government will start to strengthen social distancing measures amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Kevin Yeung, secretary for education of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, announced the decision at a press conference today.

The Chinese customs detected COVID-19 virus in four samples taken from the packaging and container of Ecuador-imported white shrimps on July 3, authorities said Friday (July 10).

Editor: Becky

Sources: People's Daily; Xinhua; China Daily