For greater than two years, foreign travelers have been required to quarantine upon arrival in China as a result of Covid restrictions. Pictured at Beijing Capital International Airport on June 18, 2022, passengers are waiting to be taken to their quarantined destinations.
Leo Ramirez | AFP | Getty Images
The U.S. government is considering imposing new Covid rules for travelers from China, officials said, citing concerns about virus-related data released by the Chinese government.
“Concerns are growing within the international community over the continued waves of COVID-19 in China and the shortage of transparent data, including virus genome sequence data, coming from the PRC,” officials wrote in a press release late Tuesday.
“Without this data, it is increasingly difficult for public health officials to make sure that they can discover any potential new variants and take swift motion to limit the spread,” officials said.
“The United States is following the science and advice of public health experts, consulting with partners, and considering similar steps we may take to guard the American people,” officials said.
Officials pointed to measures taken by Japan and Malaysia, adding that concerns concerning the situation in China were also expressed by India and the World Health Organization.
Japan requires a negative test
The comments of US officials come after those of Japan last measures which require a negative Covid test for travelers arriving from mainland China from December 30 – as China faces a spike in infections across the country after abrupt reopening.
Travelers from China with no valid vaccination certificate may also be required to take a pre-departure test, the Japanese health ministry notice added. In keeping with the notice, the measures won’t apply to those traveling from Hong Kong and Macau.
When asked to comment on the measures taken by Japan, China’s Foreign Ministry stressed the necessity for “science-based” measures, without further explanation.
“The current COVID situation on the earth still requires a science-based approach and concerted efforts to make sure protected cross-border travel, maintain the soundness of worldwide industrial and provide chains, and restore global economic growth,” said Deputy Director General Wang Wenbin. told reporters in Tuesday briefing.
Taiwan to follow
Taiwan may also conduct Covid testing on visitors arriving from mainland China, the Centers for Disease Control said to noteciting concern over the recent spike in infections and emerging new variants of the virus.
All passengers arriving on direct flights from China and a few by ship might be required to undergo a PCR test, the notice said, adding that the measures will come into effect on January 1 and remain in place for a month.
Visitors who test positive could have the choice of home isolation, the announcement said.
— Evelyn Cheng of CNBC contributed to this report.