A number of countries around the world are still imposing or considering restrictions on travelers from China after a surge in COVID-19 there following the government’s relaxation of COVID rules.
Some of those countries are:
FRANCE
A French government decree published on Saturday has extended mandatory COVID tests for travelers from China until February 15
The country is carrying out random COVID tests upon arrival on travelers coming from China and has urged all 26 other European Union member states to test Chinese travelers for COVID.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea said it will continue to restrict the entry of short-term travelers from China till the end of February, over concerns that the spread of COVID-19 in China may worsen following the Chinese Lunar New Year holidays.
UNITED STATES
The United States imposed mandatory COVID-19 tests on travelers from China beginning Jan. 5. All air passengers aged two and older will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong, or Macau.
GREECE
According to a Greek government official statement issued on Thursday, travelers to Greece from China must show they have tested negative for COVID-19 48 hours before arrival, in a new requirement that will be announced shortly.
BRITAIN
The UK will require a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test for passengers from China as of Jan. 5, the Department of Health said on Friday.
AUSTRALIA
Travelers from China to Australia will need to submit a negative COVID-19 test from Jan. 5, Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said.
INDIA
India has mandated a COVID-19 negative test report for travelers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Passengers from those countries will be quarantined if they show symptoms or test positive.
CANADA
Air travelers to Canada from China must test negative for COVID-19 no more than two days before departure, according to Canadian government requirements.
JAPAN
Japan will require negative coronavirus test results within 72 hours of passengers boarding direct flights from China, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on January 4. This is in addition to an existing regulation that passengers who had been in China in the seven days prior to their flight will be subject to a COVID-19 test on arrival in Japan. Those who test positive will be required to quarantine for seven days.
ITALY
Italy has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travelers from China. Milan’s main airport, Malpensa, has already started testing passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai.
SPAIN
Spain will require a negative COVID-19 test or a full course of vaccination against the disease upon arrival for travelers from China.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia will screen all inbound travelers for fever and test wastewater from aircraft arriving from China for COVID-19.
QATAR
Qatar will require travelers arriving from China from Jan. 3 to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours of departure, state news agency QNA said.
THAILAND
Thailand rescinded on Monday measures announced by its aviation regulator a day prior requiring international travelers to show proof of full COVID vaccination or a letter certifying recovery from the virus before flying into the country.
The health minister said on Monday that proof of vaccination was not needed as there was sufficient immunization globally, while those not vaccinated would be granted entry without restriction.
Amidst these global restrictions, China has rejected criticism of its COVID data, saying that severe cases have fallen and its current surge of infections is nearing an end.
