CNN
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The USA would require all vacationers from China to point out a damaging Covid-19 check outcome earlier than flying to the nation as Beijing’s fast easing of Covid-19 restrictions results in a surge in circumstances.
Passengers flying to the US from China might want to get a check not more than two days earlier than flying, federal well being officers stated, and current proof of the damaging check to their airline earlier than boarding.
The exams might be both a PCR check or an antigen self-test administered by a telehealth service.
The requirement will apply each to passengers flying on to the US from China as effectively to passengers flying by well-liked third-country gateways, together with Seoul, Toronto and Vancouver.
Passengers who check constructive greater than 10 days earlier than their flight can present documentation of their restoration in lieu of a damaging check outcome.
The brand new guidelines take impact at 12:01 a.m. ET on January 5.
American officers have expressed deep considerations about China’s lack of transparency surrounding the latest surge in circumstances, notably the absence of genome sequencing data that would assist detect new strains of the coronavirus.
“We all know these measures is not going to eradicate all threat or utterly stop people who find themselves contaminated from coming into the US,” a federal well being official stated. Nonetheless, “taken collectively they are going to assist restrict the variety of contaminated individuals and supply us an early warning about new variants.”
US well being officers stated the January 5 timeline was chosen to offer airways with ample time to regulate operations to implement the brand new guidelines. The officers didn’t estimate how lengthy they anticipate these guidelines to stay in place, saying they might “monitor the scenario on the bottom and alter as wanted.”
Moreover, officers introduced that the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is increasing the Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program to airports in Seattle and Los Angeles, bringing the entire variety of airports taking part to seven with roughly 500 weekly flights from a minimum of 30 international locations lined. This can embody roughly 290 weekly flights from China and surrounding areas.
“We’re increasing that to hopefully to choose up any variant which will emerge” in addition to “to scale back transmission of a brand new variant by introducing this pre-departure testing program,” an official stated.
The brand new requirement comes as Japan and India have introduced Covid-19 measures for vacationers from China amid considerations over an uptick in circumstances.
Japan is requiring people touring from China be examined for Covid-19 upon arrival beginning December 30. Indian authorities have stated vacationers from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand must present proof of a damaging Covid-19 check on arrival to India and quarantine in the event that they check constructive.
China has began loosening its strict Covid-19 measures after dismantling the nation’s long-held zero-Covid coverage earlier this month. On Monday, China introduced it’ll finish quarantine necessities for worldwide arrivals from January 8, marking a significant step towards reopening its borders.
However the sudden finish to the China’s stringent well being coverage has caught many within the nation off guard and put strains on the well being system because it offers with a rise of infections.
Officers famous that the “CDC continues to suggest masking throughout journey, self-monitoring for signs and testing for 3 days after arrival for worldwide journey.”
Officers stated China uploaded “solely about 100” new sequences to public databases in current weeks, “together with Omicron subvariants resembling BA.5,” however the small pattern measurement leaves room for concern, the CDC stated.
“What we’re involved about is a brand new variant might emerge really in China,” one official stated. “With so many individuals in China being contaminated in a brief time frame, there’s a probability and likelihood {that a} new variant will emerge.”
Requested if there was concern in regards to the veracity of the info – and whether or not China was being truthful and clear, an official stated it was primarily the quantity of information that involved the administration at this level.
“We’ve got simply restricted data by way of what’s being shared associated to variety of circumstances (that) are rising hospitalizations, and particularly deaths,” he stated. “Additionally, there’s been a lower in testing throughout China. In order that additionally makes it troublesome to know what the true an infection fee is.”
China’s international ministry responded Wednesday to stories that the US is contemplating imposing restrictions on vacationers from China, urging events to work collectively to make sure the secure motion of individuals between international locations and the soundness of the worldwide provide chain.
“We’d like all events to work collectively scientifically towards the epidemic to make sure the secure motion of individuals between international locations, keep the soundness of the worldwide industrial chain provide chain and promote the resumption of wholesome development on this planet economic system,” China’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated in a briefing.
This story has been up to date with further developments.