A growing number of countries are asking travelers from China to prove they have tested negative for the new coronavirus. We are wary of the possibility of new mutant strains appearing in the rapidly expanding infection in China.
The US has expanded its program to require travelers from China to provide negative evidence and voluntarily send samples at airports to other international travelers. This is to prevent mutant strains from entering the country.
On December 30, 2018, the United Kingdom, France and Spain joined the list of countries requiring travelers from China to present negative samples and certificates, saying they would need proof of the negative. Morocco bans travel from China. In 2023, Australia announced that travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macau will need to obtain a negative certificate within 48 hours before their flight from the 5th of the same month.
China has been criticized for failing to release genetic data early in the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese health officials say they are using samples from emergency hospitals and outpatients to monitor for mutations, but experts say the data is not shared overseas.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Photographer: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter: “It is understandable that countries around the world take action to protect their people in the absence of comprehensive information from China.” He said WHO needed more detailed information from China to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment.
Officials from China’s National Health Commission and the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention briefed WHO officials on December 30 on strategies and actions to combat the epidemic.
South Korea, Malaysia, Italy, Taiwan and Japan have also tightened COVID-19 rules for travelers from China.
From December 30, Japan will conduct a new corona test upon arrival for travelers from mainland China and those who have visited the mainland within 7 days. Those who test positive are required to quarantine for a week.
Haneda Airport Flight Arrivals Display (December 28)
Photographer: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images
Original title:Covid mutation risk drives rush to test travelers from China (2)、Australia to begin Covid-19 testing for travelers from China、Covid mutation risk drives rush to test travelers from China (1)、France, UK and Spain want a negative Covid test for flights to China (1)、Places with new Covid rules for Chinese travelers (1)(extract)
(I will add and update the trends in Canada, Morocco and Australia from the third paragraph onwards.)
