On Wednesday, December 28th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new regulation requiring all air travelers from China, Hong Kong, and Macau to present a negative Covid-19 test before being admitted into the United States beginning January 5. The decision came in response to the recent surge of Covid-19 cases in China and its lack of transparency in reporting new infections. The regulation also applies to travelers coming from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China within the past 10 days. This is part of a larger effort to contain the spread of Covid-19, both domestically and abroad.
The CDC cited the “reduced testing and case reporting” in the People’s Republic of China, as well as a lack of sharing of viral genomic sequence data, as contributing factors to the decision. In response to China’s outbreak, other countries have implemented new precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from the country. Japan recently announced that it would require negative testing from travelers from China, and Italy has ordered tests for all incoming travelers from China after finding that half of all passengers arriving in Milan from China tested positive for Covid-19.
By requiring travelers from China to present a negative test, the U.S. hopes to help prevent the spread of new variants of the virus and ensure the safety of its citizens. The CDC has urged travelers to take all necessary precautions, such as getting tested for Covid-19 within the last three days before their flight, wearing a face mask, avoiding contact with people who may be infected, and washing their hands frequently.