Several countries have cited a lack of data from China on Covid variants. And are concerned about the wave of infections. But China has rejected criticism of its statistics.
BEIJING: Several places around the world have imposed restrictions on travelers from China amid a surge in Covid-19 after Beijing relaxed strict “zero-Covid” measures. They cited a lack of information from China about the variant and worried about a wave of infections. China rejected criticism of its figures and said it expected future mutations to be potentially more deadly but less severe.
Below is a list of rules for travelers from China:
United States
The US will impose mandatory COVID-19 testing for travelers arriving from China starting January 5. All air travelers aged 2 years and older will need a negative test result no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said Americans should reconsider traveling to China, Hong Kong and Macau.
India
India has made a COVID-19 negative test report mandatory for travelers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand, the health minister said. Travelers from these countries will be quarantined if they show symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive.
Japan
Travelers arriving from mainland China will need a negative COVID-19 test in Japan. Those who test positive will be quarantined for seven days. The new border measures for China will come into effect at midnight on December 30. The government will also limit requests by airlines to increase flights to China. Hong Kong’s government has asked Japan to lift a ban that requires passenger flights from the financial center to land at four designated Japanese airports, saying the decision will affect about 60,000 passengers.
Italy
The country has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travelers arriving from China. Milan’s main airport, Malpensa, has already started screening passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai. “This measure is essential to ensure the surveillance. And detection of possible forms of the virus to protect the Italian population.” Minister Orazio Schillaci said when announcing the mandatory testing for passengers.
Taiwan
Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center said all passengers arriving on direct flights from China. As well as those arriving by boat to the two offshore islands, must be tested for PCR. Taiwan will test arrivals from China for COVID-19 starting January 1.
Countries considering travel bans
UK
The UK will consider imposing COVID-19 restrictions on arrivals from China, including requiring coronavirus testing, the Telegraph reported. Officials from the Department of Transport, Home Office, Health and Social Care are expected to decide on Thursday whether. The UK will follow the US and Italy in imposing Covid restrictions on travelers from China, the report said.
Countries are monitoring the situation
Australia
Australia has said it is not making any changes to its rules on allowing travelers from China. “There are no changes to travel advice now but we continue to check the situation. As we continue to check the impact of Covid in Australia as well as around the world,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Philippines
The Southeast Asian country is being “very cautious.” And may impose measures such as testing requirements on visitors from China. But not an outright ban, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Wednesday.
