They are the latest country to decide on restrictions in this area, but they too should be followed: The United States announced Wednesday night that it will reimpose a mandatory test on travelers coming from China and landing on its territory. In fact, the measure has been extended in recent hours due to the unprecedented increase in Covid-19 cases in China after the government abandoned the “Covid zero” strategy.
The United States will tighten the nut from January 5
It is a framework of the health authority that formalized the device with respect to the United States.
As of January 5, “all travelers 2 years and older who come from China must take a test no later than two days before departure,” regardless of their nationality or vaccination status, said this official. Access to US soil is, of course, conditional on the negative test in question.
Italy and Taiwan take their steps, Japan takes the lead
Earlier on Wednesday, Italy and Taiwan also joined the list of countries imposing mandatory Covid-19 tests for travelers from China. “This measure is essential to ensure surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus in order to protect the Italian population,” Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said.
Taiwan, for its part, has announced the implementation of Covid-19 screening tests for travelers arriving from China from January 1. The measure, which will take effect until the end of January, does not affect travelers from Hong Kong and Macao, authorities said.
Japan, India and Malaysia had already announced this week a reinforcement of sanitary measures for travelers from China. Tokyo, for example, has reported that a negative test will now be required.
France, Germany and Belgium delay
France has not yet followed in his footsteps. President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, asked the government on Wednesday for “appropriate measures” to protect the French and invited his partners to consider “actions both at the national and European level,” the Elysée said.
At a more local level, the mayor of Bruges found similar accents in calling for greater vigilance in Belgium around visitors to and from China. In fact, calling for the development of a “European” solution, Dirk De fauw launched: “The infection rate is still very high (in China). I think we have to work with a vaccination certificate or with tests” to control passengers coming from China.
Germany, for its part, considered that it was not necessary for the moment to impose restrictions on these travelers from China.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in China, but at this time we have no indication that a more dangerous mutation has developed (…) that would justify the declaration of a zone variant of the virus,” a Health Ministry spokesperson said on Monday. Wednesday.
Variant zone status requires anyone entering Germany from this zone to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.
Source: BFM TV
