The Government has no plans to introduce mandatory Covid tests for visitors from China after the US became the latest country to impose restrictions. The US joined Italy, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan in announcing new measures after the abrupt end of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy sparked a surge in cases.
However, a UK Government spokesperson said: “There are no plans to reintroduce Covid-19 testing or additional requirements for arrivals into the UK.” The spokesperson added the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will continue to closely monitor the prevalence and spread of harmful variants and keep available international data under review.
In the US, starting on January 5, all travellers from China will be required to take a Covid-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before getting on their flight. The testing applies to anyone two years and older.
In a statement explaining the restrictions, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited the surge in infections and what it said was a lack of adequate and transparent information from China, including genomic sequencing on the viral strains circulating in the country.
The CDC said: “These data are critical to monitor the case surge effectively and decrease the chance for entry of a novel variant of concern.”
Italy is so far the only country in Europe and EU member state to have set the new Covid rules. According to the BBC, the European Commission said its health security committee will convene today (Thursday, Dec 29) to discuss “possible measures for a co-ordinated EU approach” to China’s Covid situation.
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