U. S. cancels COVID tests for tourists from China
2023.03.08 04:55
U. S. cancels COVID tests for tourists from China
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – A person with knowledge of the situation told Reuters that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will stop requiring travelers from China to take COVID-19 tests on Friday, joining other countries that have done so.
Japan stopped requiring everyone who arrived from China to take a virus test last week. Reuters was informed by the source that the United States would continue to monitor cases worldwide and in China. The Washington Post reported the decision made by the United States earlier.
When contacted for comment, the CDC did not immediately respond.
Following Beijing’s decision to relax strict zero-COVID policies, the United States joined India, Canada, Italy, Japan, and other nations in implementing new measures at the beginning of January. New air passengers over the age of 2 had to pass a test with a negative result no more than two days before departing from China, Hong Kong, or Macao.
After abruptly abandoning its zero-COVID policy at the beginning of December, China unleashed the virus on its 1.4 billion people, resulting in an increase in COVID-19 cases. Even though experts have questioned that data, China’s top leaders declared a “major victory” over COVID in February, claiming the lowest fatality rate in the world.
In December, the United States added Seattle and Los Angeles to its voluntary genomic sequencing program at airports.
The Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance Program (TGS), which asks travelers to volunteer to assist with the early detection of new variants, will continue, the source told Reuters on Tuesday.
According to the source, TGS will keep an eye on flights from China and regional transportation hubs, as well as flights from more than 30 other countries.
