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Restrictions on travel and quarantine on arrival are typical strategies imposed by public health authorities during pandemics. While much research has analyzed the consequences of policies about global public health emergencies including COVID-19, to date there has been little discussion of the social consequences of these policies. We undertook an exploratory study using qualitative research to understand the social impacts experienced by travelers as a result of the restriction policies implemented in China following its implementation of a zero-COVID policy. Using online sources and 40 interviews with quarantine hotel staff, government officials, and arrivees to China, we found that the people with a strong justification for travelling during the pandemic were significantly affected by the restrictions, resulting in them experiencing a wide range of negative social impacts, including on their: psychosocial health and wellbeing; family cohesion; social networks; the experience of unexpected and unpleasant circumstances; and a sense of persecution. These outcomes were partly a consequence of the characteristics of Chinese society and the returnees themselves, and were influenced by the government's COVID management strategies. With medical experts having dominated the battle against the virus, ordinary people's feelings and concerns were ignored. We argue that these also need to be understood and considered in the planning of public health strategies. To improve outcomes in future situations, much can be learned from the field of Social Impact Assessment (SIA), especially in terms of understanding how people are affected, and to achieve acceptance and a social licence for pandemic management strategies, the importance of meaningful community engagement, ongoing monitoring, adaptive management, and an effective grievance redress mechanism. Our paper enriches the understanding of SIA when applied in the policy arena, and it demonstrates the value of a SIA perspective for improving social outcomes in public health emergencies. It also adds to understanding the consequences of pandemics and restriction policies on people. • The concerns of arrivees have been ignored in management of the COVID pandemic. • Restriction policies have significantly affected people other than just travelers. • Although various elites dominate the battle against virus, people's feelings matter. • National policies should consider the unintended consequences of actions. • A Social Impact Assessment perspective helps analyze the social impacts of policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examines the current prospects for and obstacles facing the implementation of social impact assessment (SIA) and participatory planning in the People''s Republic of China. During the past two decades, rapid urbanisation and the conversion of rural land for urban development have led to numerous social conflicts and tensions between the Chinese government and its people. SIA and public participation in development decisions have received increasing attention from the Chinese authorities as possible ways to tackle the problem. Based on a Guangzhou case study, this paper argues that the assessment and mitigation of adverse impacts on the community from urban development have been carried out with different objectives, core values and principles when compared with those in Western societies. It concludes that the poor prospects of SIA and collaborative planning in China lie not only in the weak framework for environmental legislation, but also in all institutions concerning state–society relations, the socialist governing ideology and traditional Chinese culture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]