The U.S. introduced new COVID-19 testing necessities Wednesday for all vacationers from China, becoming a member of different nations imposing restrictions due to a surge of infections.
The rise in instances throughout China follows the rollback of the nation’s strict anti-virus controls. China’s “zero COVID” insurance policies had stored China’s an infection fee low however fueled public frustration and crushed financial progress.
Starting Jan. 5, all vacationers to the U.S. from China will likely be required to take a COVID-19 check not more than two days earlier than journey and supply a destructive check earlier than boarding their flight. The testing applies to anybody 2 years and older.
Different international locations have taken comparable steps in an effort to maintain infections from spreading past China’s borders. Japan would require a destructive COVID-19 check upon arrival for vacationers from China, and Malaysia introduced new monitoring and surveillance measures. India, South Korea and Taiwan are requiring virus exams for guests from China.
Lunar New Yr, which begins Jan. 22, is often China’s busiest journey season, and China introduced Tuesday it would resume issuing passports for tourism for the primary time for the reason that begin of the pandemic in 2020.
The U.S. motion is a return to necessities for some worldwide vacationers. The Biden administration lifted the final of such mandates in June. At the moment, the CDC continued to suggest that individuals boarding flights to the U.S. get examined near departure time and never journey if they’re sick.
Early within the pandemic, the U.S. barred entry to foreigners touring from China, weeks after the virus first emerged there three years in the past. Individuals had been allowed to return residence and flights from China had been funneled to chose airports the place passengers had been screened for sickness.
However the virus already was spreading within the U.S. amongst individuals with no journey historical past.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely answerable for all content material.