As the number of COVID-19 cases rise in China, the US and other countries are taking steps to contain the virus from spreading beyond its borders. The US has announced new testing requirements for all travelers from China, effective Jan 5. The new requirement applies to anyone aged two and above, and requires a COVID-19 test no more than two days before their flight and a negative test result before boarding. Other countries have also implemented similar measures, including Japan, Malaysia, India, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The US action is a return to the travel restrictions implemented during the pandemic last year, when the Biden administration lifted the last of the mandates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommended that people boarding flights to the US get tested close to departure time and not travel if they are sick.
China is also preparing for its busiest travel season of the year, Lunar New Year, and has announced that it will resume issuing passports for tourism for the first time since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
The new travel restrictions are likely to cause disruption and inconvenience for travelers, but are necessary in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As countries around the world grapple with the pandemic, the steps taken to protect their citizens from the virus, while balancing the need to facilitate international travel, will be essential.