Starting next week, travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test before boarding flights to the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The requirement applies to all passengers, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status. The CDC advises Americans to reconsider travel to these regions due to the risk of new variants and the overwhelmed healthcare system. Americans visiting China should also wear masks indoors in public, in addition to wearing masks in airports and planes.
New COVID measures come as China sees record number of infections
The new measures come amid a record number of infections in China since it relaxed its “zero COVID” policy in December, and as the Chinese government begins to ease travel restrictions put in place during the early stages of the pandemic. Airlines will be required to collect proof of a negative COVID-19 test from all passengers aged 2 and older starting January 5th. Both lab-based PCR tests and antigen self-tests will be accepted as long as they are administered by a healthcare provider.
Passengers on connecting flights will also need to provide proof of a negative test. Travelers to the US through South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, Canada’s Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Canada’s Vancouver International Airport will be required to test negative if they have been in China within the past 10 days. The CDC is expanding its variant surveillance efforts to two new international airports in Los Angeles and Seattle, and is already tracking variants detected in voluntary tests from arriving international travelers. Wastewater collected from some aircraft bathrooms is also being tested for variants. Once expanded, the program will cover around 290 weekly flights from China and nearby countries.
The new testing requirement for travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau comes as the US continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases, with a total of over 27 million confirmed cases and over 456,000 deaths as of December 2021. The US has been heavily impacted by the pandemic, with some states experiencing particularly severe outbreaks. Despite the availability of vaccines, many Americans have been hesitant to get vaccinated, leading to ongoing transmission of the virus. The CDC’s new measure is an attempt to prevent further spread of the virus from countries with high transmission rates.
CDC expanding variant surveillance
In addition to the testing requirement, the CDC is also expanding its variant surveillance efforts to two new international airports in Los Angeles and Seattle. The agency has been tracking variants of the virus for several months, using voluntary tests collected from arriving international travelers as well as wastewater collected from some aircraft bathrooms. The expansion of the program to these two airports will allow for more comprehensive tracking of variant strains, which have the potential to spread more easily and potentially cause more severe illness.
While the testing requirement and variant surveillance efforts are important measures to help control the spread of COVID-19, they are not a complete solution. The CDC recommends that all travelers, regardless of destination, continue to follow recommended guidelines to protect themselves and others from the virus. This includes wearing masks in public, maintaining physical distance from others, washing hands frequently, and avoiding large gatherings.
The testing requirement for travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau also highlights the importance of international cooperation in controlling the spread of COVID-19. As the pandemic continues to evolve, it is essential that countries work together to share information, resources, and best practices to help curb the spread of the virus and protect public health.
CDC urging Americans to reconsider travel to China
In addition to the testing requirement, the CDC is also urging Americans to reconsider travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau due to the risk of new variants and the overwhelmed healthcare system. The agency has issued a travel alert, advising travelers to be aware of the potential risks and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others. This includes wearing masks in public, practicing physical distancing, and avoiding large gatherings.
The CDC’s new measures come amid a record number of infections in China since it relaxed its “zero COVID” policy in early December. The Chinese government has also begun to ease travel restrictions that were put in place during the early stages of the pandemic. While the easing of restrictions and the relaxation of the “zero COVID” policy have been welcomed by some, they have also raised concerns about the potential for further spread of the virus.
The testing requirement and travel advisories reflect the ongoing efforts of the US to control the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health. While the pandemic is not yet over, the availability of vaccines and the implementation of measures such as testing and variant surveillance can help to mitigate the impact of the virus and pave the way for a return to normalcy.
