China has been worst hit by the latest surge in the number of COVID-19 cases. This has led to many countries across the world, including India, to impose COVID travel restrictions on tourists coming in from China.
Authorities of India, Spain, Malaysia, the US, Japan and several other European countries have imposed COVID travel restrictions on China. Reason? The lack of information from China about the latest COVID – 19 variants, leading to countries worrying about the wave and the severity of the infections. As the death toll in China reached 9,000, its relaxation of zero-COVID rules has concerned many countries. Here’s the list of countries and their travel restrictions on travellers from China.
List Of Countries Imposing COVID Travel Restrictions On China
India
India has made it mandatory for passengers from several countries to present a negative COVID report before travelling to the country. The countries include China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. There will also be random RT PCR tests conducted on about 2% of travellers coming in from other parts of the world. Those who test positive or are found with symptoms will be immediately quarantined.
Japan
Japan has mandated a negative COVID-19 test on arrival for passengers from China. While those who test positive will be immediately quarantined, authorities will also limit the requests of airlines looking to increase flights to China as part of its COVID travel restrictions.
United States
The USA is set to impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on passengers coming from China from January 5, 2023, onwards. All passengers above the age of 2 will be required to present negative COVID reports, not more than two days old for people coming in from China, Hong Kong or Macau. The authorities have also asked US citizens to reconsider travel to any of these countries.
Italy
Italian authorities have mandated COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for everyone coming in from China. At Malpensa airport in Milan, testing of passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai is already in place. Health Minister Orazio Schillaci has also mentioned that this measure ensures the surveillance and detection of possible COVID variants.
Spain
In its own set of COVID travel restrictions, Spain has mandated a negative COVID-19 test or a full course of vaccination for travellers from China.
Several other countries like Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea have travel restrictions against China in place. Whereas countries like Australia, the Philippines and Britain are closely monitoring the situation in China and might impose travel restrictions on China if needed.
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This article first appeared on Travel+Leisure India
Related: Everything you need to know before travelling to China