They cite a lack of information from China on the variants and worry about a wave of infections. China dismissed criticism of its Covid data and said it expects future mutations to be potentially more transmissible but less severe.
Below is a list of new regulations for travelers from China:
COUNTRIES IMPOSING BORDERS
UNITED STATES
The United States will impose mandatory Covid -19 tests on travelers from China starting January 5. All air passengers 2 years of age and older will be required to obtain a negative test result no later than two days prior to departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said Americans should also reconsider travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau.
INDIA
The country has made a negative Covid-19 test report mandatory for travelers from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand, the health minister said. Passengers from these countries will be quarantined if they show symptoms or test positive.
JAPAN
Japan will require a negative Covid-19 test on arrival for travelers from mainland China. Those who test positive will need to quarantine for seven days. New border measures for China will take effect at midnight on December 30. The government will also limit requests from airlines to increase flights to China.
ITALY
Italy has ordered Covid-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travelers from China. Milan’s main airport, Malpensa, had already started testing passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai. “The measure is essential to ensure the surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus in order to protect the Italian population,” said Health Minister Orazio Schillaci.
TAIWAN
Taiwan’s central epidemic command center said all passengers on direct flights from China, as well as by ship on two offshore islands, will be required to take PCR tests upon arrival, starting Jan. 1.
COUNTRY MONITORING STATUS
AUSTRALIA
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia continued to monitor the situation in relation to China “as we continue to monitor the impact of Covid here in Australia as well as around the world”.
PHILIPPINES
The Southeast Asian country is “very cautious” and could impose measures such as testing requirements on visitors from China, but not an outright ban, Transportation secretary Jaime Bautista said.
DO NOT CONSIDER EDGES
BRITAIN
Britain has no plans to bring back Covid-19 tests for those entering the country, a government spokesman said on Thursday when asked about a Daily Telegraph report saying it would consider restricting arrivals from China.
