https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/countries-ramp-screening-travelers-china
Countries ramp up screening of travelers from China
Lisa Schnirring
Today at 2:48 p.m.
COVID-19
Extent of Chinese surge unclear
Several of China's major cities were battling COVID flare-ups before the country scrapped its "zero COVID" measures. The unwinding of the restrictions seems to have intensified those outbreaks, but the nation's health officials have also signaled changes in reporting, including for deaths, that muddle the scale of the current surge.
Experts have also raised concerns about China's lack of transparency about genetic changes in the circulating viruses—key information needed to help the global community prepare for future surges.
Yesterday, Japan—grappling with its own COVID surge—announced that it would test all passengers arriving from China, with those testing positive required to isolate at designated facilities for 7 days, according to the Japan Times. Officials also announced that they would limit the number of flights from China.
Japan's health ministry today reported a record daily high for COVID deaths, with 415 fatalities reported, according to Reuters. The country is also approaching record daily highs for new cases, with 216,219 reported today.
Tightened screening
Other countries and jurisdictions are also tightening restrictions on travelers from China. Taiwan's government today said it would start testing people arriving from China starting on Jan 1 and that the government would sequence viruses from positive tests to look for any new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Elsewhere, Italy's health minister today announced COVID rapid antigen testing and sequencing for all travelers coming from China, according to Reuters, which said the airport in Milan had already started screening people arriving from Beijing and Shanghai on Dec 26.
Also, several media outlets, citing a statement from unnamed US government sources, said the United States is considering similar measures, due to growing global concerns about China's surge and its lack of transparency about its outbreak.
Countries ramp up screening of travelers from China
Lisa Schnirring
Today at 2:48 p.m.
COVID-19
Amid media reports and video footage of overwhelmed health and mortuary services in China due to a surge in COVID-19 activity, some countries are stepping up restrictions on travelers from China, partly to track any potential new SARS-CoV-2 variants.Extent of Chinese surge unclear
Several of China's major cities were battling COVID flare-ups before the country scrapped its "zero COVID" measures. The unwinding of the restrictions seems to have intensified those outbreaks, but the nation's health officials have also signaled changes in reporting, including for deaths, that muddle the scale of the current surge.
Experts have also raised concerns about China's lack of transparency about genetic changes in the circulating viruses—key information needed to help the global community prepare for future surges.
Yesterday, Japan—grappling with its own COVID surge—announced that it would test all passengers arriving from China, with those testing positive required to isolate at designated facilities for 7 days, according to the Japan Times. Officials also announced that they would limit the number of flights from China.
Japan's health ministry today reported a record daily high for COVID deaths, with 415 fatalities reported, according to Reuters. The country is also approaching record daily highs for new cases, with 216,219 reported today.
Tightened screening
Other countries and jurisdictions are also tightening restrictions on travelers from China. Taiwan's government today said it would start testing people arriving from China starting on Jan 1 and that the government would sequence viruses from positive tests to look for any new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Elsewhere, Italy's health minister today announced COVID rapid antigen testing and sequencing for all travelers coming from China, according to Reuters, which said the airport in Milan had already started screening people arriving from Beijing and Shanghai on Dec 26.
Also, several media outlets, citing a statement from unnamed US government sources, said the United States is considering similar measures, due to growing global concerns about China's surge and its lack of transparency about its outbreak.