US to lift Covid-19 testing restrictions on travellers
The United States will lift Covid-19 testing requirements for travelers from China on Friday, a major step toward normalizing relations between the two countries as the outbreak winds down. The measure is being lifted because the United States has evidence that the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in China is falling, Reuters reported. The Biden administration in January ordered travelers over the age of two to test negative before entering the United States after China reversed its strict Covid restrictions. The United States joined India, Canada, Italy, Japan, South Korea and other countries in making the move.
In February, South Korea said travelers from China would not be required to undergo a Covid-19 test upon arrival in March, although a pre-departure test would still be required. China has been hit by a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases after it abruptly abandoned its zero-Covid policy in early December, unleashing the virus on 1.4 billion people.
In February, China’s leaders declared a “great victory” over Covid and claimed the world’s lowest death toll, although experts have questioned those figures. The measure was originally introduced to protect American citizens while the United States was able to determine the impact of the outbreak in China and gain insight into circulating variants, Bloomberg reported.
The Biden administration continues to monitor cases in China and other countries and maintains a traveler-based genomic surveillance program. According to the report, allies and partners have lifted similar restrictions on flights from China and the United States, which have been consulted on public health measures. The Washington Post reported on the plans earlier on Tuesday.
Removing the test requirement would remove one of the last hurdles facing the global aviation industry post-Covid, particularly for business travelers traveling between the world’s two largest economies. The move also opens the door for Beijing to retaliate by relaxing its own pre-flight testing rules for travelers from the United States.
There are still obstacles to full normalization. China still requires PCR tests for travelers from the United States — and airline staff check the results before boarding — despite allowing rapid antigen tests for travelers from some countries. According to a post from the Chinese Embassy in the United States, results may be randomly checked upon arrival.
Flights between the US and China remain limited to 12 per week. There are just 172 flights between the US and China this month, a 94.1 percent drop over the same time period. in two countries as the epidemic subsides. Removing the test requirement removes one of the last hurdles facing the global airline industry post-Covid, particularly for business travelers traveling between the world’s largest economies.
The move also opens the door for Beijing to reciprocate by relaxing pre-flight testing rules for travelers from the United States. There are still obstacles to full normalization. China requires PCR tests for travelers from the United States — and airline staff check the results before boarding — despite allowing rapid antigen tests for travelers from some countries.
