In view of the high number of corona infections in China, the USA is introducing new restrictions for travelers from the Asian country. The US health authority CDC announced on Wednesday (local time) that from January 5th, air travelers coming from China to the USA would have to present a negative corona test before departure. This applies regardless of the nationality of the travelers and their vaccination status. The test must not be older than two days. The test requirement is also mandatory for travelers from the Chinese special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
The new rule also applies to people coming to the United States from China via a third country, as well as to passengers who want to travel to other destinations via the United States, it said. It is about curbing the spread of the corona virus in view of the increase in Covid cases in China, since the Chinese side has not provided sufficient data. China is currently struggling with a rapid increase in corona cases. According to estimates, 248 million people in China contracted the virus in the first three weeks of December alone.
Beware of new variants
Scientists warn that the corona wave could produce new variants that would then find their way to other countries. After almost three years of strict precautions, China’s leadership abruptly announced an end to its controversial zero-corona policy on December 7th. Since the beginning of the pandemic, China’s strategy has been to contain the virus as best it can, using lockdowns, mass testing and forced quarantines to combat even the smallest outbreaks. In the end, however, the measures could no longer do much against the more easily transferrable Omikron variant.
Also Italy introduces mandatory corona tests for all travelers from China. “The measure is essential to ensure the surveillance and detection of any variants of the virus, to protect the Italian population,” explains Health Minister Orazio Schillaci. He will announce details at a cabinet meeting.