COVID-19 Cases: These 9 Countries Impose More Restrictions for Travelers from China Amid COVID Outbreak

With China's rapidly growing COVID-19 outbreak following the lifting of its strict "zero-COVID" policy, these nine countries have already enforced restrictions on travelers from the Asian nation coming into their territories.

Officials from Britain and the United States have reintroduced mandatory pre-flight COVID-19 tests for travelers who came from China. Other nations, such as Italy and Japan, are requiring travelers to get tested upon arrival and quarantine for the ones who show positive results.

Restrictions on Travelers from China

On the other hand, Morocco has also decided to bar entry of all travelers who hail from China in a measure that was set to take effect on Tuesday. But Beijing officials have not taken the news well, labeling the new restrictions "discriminatory" and politically motivated in an effort to undermine the Chinese government.

Some public health experts have also cast doubt on the effectiveness of the new measures, with the director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Andrew Pollard, saying that trying to ban a virus by adjusting what is done with travel has already been shown to not work as well as authorities hope for, as per the Time.

The situation comes as China prepares to lift its own border restrictions starting on January 8. The French government also announced that it will mandate travelers coming from China to show a negative COVID-19 test at most 48 hours before their departure. Furthermore, passengers will be required to wear face masks during their flight and commit to undergoing random testing upon arrival.

Starting from January 3, Spain will also require travelers from China to show a negative COVID-19 test as well as proof of vaccination against the virus. Madrid also said that for the latter, it would accept any vaccine that has been recognized by the World Health Organization, including China-made Sinovac and Sinopharm.

According to CNN, on the other hand, Australia's top medical officer advised the country's government against imposing COVID-19 restrictions on travelers coming from China. The remarks came a day before the country's prime minister announced new testing requirements for travelers coming from the Asian nation.

Proof of Non-Infection

Despite the Australian government's parallel decision with many countries against travelers from China, internal documents showed that the restrictions were made against Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly's advice that they are not necessary.

In a statement, Kelly said that based on available information and the absence of a specific threat from a particular COVID-19 variant, there was no need to impose any restrictions or additional requirements on travelers from China.

The Canadian government was also among those that announced new restrictions against travelers from China. They are now requiring a negative COVID-19 test for people flying from China, Hong Kong, or Macao.

The restrictions will be implemented for air travelers who are two years of age and must be taken no more than two days before their departure. This could either be a negative molecular (PCR test) or a negative antigen test. For the latter, documentation is needed to show that it has been monitored by a telehealth service or an accredited laboratory or testing provider, the Government of Canada reported.