Almost 37 million people were possibly infected in China on a single day last week
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Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Published Dec 29, 2022 • 3 minute read
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A passenger walks in to test for the COVID-19 coronavirus, on arrival at Anna International Airport in Chennai on Dec. 24, 2022. Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images China may be reopening, allowing its 1.4 billion people to come and go largely without restrictions, but just as it is, a slew of other countries are tightening measures for travellers from the world’s second-biggest economy, concerned the tsunami of virus cases there may spawn new COVID variants.
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In a complete and surprising reversal of its COVID Zero policy, China did away with almost all pandemic restrictions virtually overnight. That’s seen the virus run wild and unchecked through its population, with almost 37 million people possibly having been infected on a single day last week.
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From Jan. 8, China will also scrap its quarantine requirement for inbound travellers, a step that’s seen as making it more likely for people to travel abroad after almost three years of total isolation.
Considering China had a massive outbound tourism market before the pandemic, other countries are now becoming wary of the risks of a resurgence in infections in their own populations.
Here’s a list of what new measures nations are imposing.
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The United States The U.S. will require airline passengers coming from China to show a negative COVID-19 test result, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status, from Jan. 5.
Travellers who were also in the country 10 days prior to their departure to the U.S. will have to show either a negative PCR or antigen test, federal health officials said Wednesday. The requirement also applies to travellers from Hong Kong and Macau.
Passengers who tested positive more than 10 days before traveling can provide documentation and proof of recovery from COVID in lieu of a negative test result. Airlines will need to confirm the negative COVID test or documentation of recovery prior to boarding any flight to the US.
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Article content Italy Italy has introduced a mandatory rapid COVID-19 test for all passengers entering the country from China, according to a health ministry statement. The new measure also applies to passengers in transit.
The first European nation to be hit hard by COVID in early 2020, Italy is also urging other countries in the region to adopt a collective testing agreement, given they’re part of the open-border Schengen Area.
The move came after authorities in Milan earlier said that almost half of the passengers on two flights from China tested positive for the virus. Most weren’t showing any symptoms.
Taiwan People who travel from mainland China to Taiwan during January will be subject to PCR testing upon arrival, according to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Those who test positive will need to serve a five-day home quarantine.
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Article content Japan The Japanese government put in place emergency COVID measures from Dec. 30 to tighten restrictions on travel from China. Authorities now require travellers from mainland China and those who were there within seven days to conduct a COVID test upon arrival, and to quarantine for a week if they test positive.
Direct flights from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau will be accepted only at certain airports and airlines have been asked not to increase the current number of flights.
India India now requires PCR tests for passengers arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, and quarantine will be required for those who test positive for COVID.
Malaysia Malaysia is working to improve its digital management system to track individuals who have a positive COVID test result. Positive cases will be given a home surveillance order and a release order digitally.
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