England requires negative test for arrivals from China

• Several countries scrutinized Chinese travelers when China relaxed zero-Covid.
• UK, France, Spain, Israel, and South Korea also impose testing procedures.
• WHO requests “real-time” Covid information from Beijing.

Prior to boarding an aircraft, travelers arriving in England from China will need to present a negative Covid test, ministers said.

Following Beijing’s decision to loosen its zero-Covid policy, numerous governments declared they would begin screening travelers from China.

On January 8, China has said that all of its borders will be reopened.

Testing has been mandated in a number of nations, including the US, France, and India.

People departing on direct flights from China beginning on January 5 will be required to take a pre-departure Covid test, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

A sample of travelers travelling from China will be checked for the virus as they arrive as part of surveillance beginning on January 8 by the UK Health Security Agency.

The government was taking a “balanced and precautionary approach,” according to Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who also noted that the measures were “temporary” as officials evaluated the most recent Covid data.

Although there are no direct flights from China to Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, the government claims that it is working with the devolved governments to ensure that the policy is implemented across the UK. The testing requirement only applies to travelers going to English airports.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Beijing to share “real-time” information on Covid – including on deaths, hospitalizations and vaccinations.

The UN body said it was willing to offer support on data-sharing, adding that it was “understandable” that some countries were now imposing fresh restrictions.

China’s foreign ministry said earlier this week that its “epidemic situation” overall was “predictable and under control”.

Analysts claim that the daily caseload may be closer to one million than the 5,000 cases per day that the Chinese government claims to be reporting.

Since officials no longer require instances to be recorded and changed classifications for Covid deaths, it is unknown how many cases and deaths are actually occurring every day in China.

The UK government claimed that its choice was motivated by “China’s failure to divulge detailed health information.”

In reaction to the rising number of infections in China, Spain, Israel, and South Korea also declared on Friday that they will impose testing procedures.

Some scientists disagree with the strategy used by the US and the UK, arguing that it is preferable to check visitors after they have arrived. Post-arrival testing has been implemented in Italy and Spain.

However, not all nations have disclosed new restrictions. Australia, Portugal, and Germany have all stated that there won’t be any new rules for the time being.

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