China is dealing with an explosive outbreak of COVID-19 as health officials relax their draconian “zero-COVID” containment policies, prompting several countries around the world to order tests for Chinese travelers.
The US cited the rise in infections and a “lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and viral genome sequence data” from the Chinese government when it announced a testing requirement last week.
Passengers prepare to board a flight at the airport in north-central China’s Jiangxi Province. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Italy also ordered tests for Chinese travelers last week after more than half of all passengers on incoming flights at Milan’s Malpensa Airport tested positive for COVID-19.
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The European Union will hold an integrated political crisis response meeting on Wednesday to decide whether entry restrictions should be needed across the 27-nation bloc.
Travelers walk through a terminal hall of Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, March 23, 2022. (Portal/Tingshu Wang)
Australia announced on Monday that travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macau must undergo a COVID-19 test before departure.
“This decision was made to protect Australia from the risk of potentially emerging variants and in recognition of the rapidly evolving situation in China and the uncertainty about emerging virus variants,” the Australian Department of Health said.
Residents line up outside a pharmacy to buy antigen test kits for coronavirus in Nanjing city, east China’s Jiangsu province, December 15, 2022. (China Daily via Portal/File Photo)
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Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India and other countries have introduced similar restrictions on travelers from China.
China’s zero-COVID strategy kept millions of people in lockdown for weeks, but the government abruptly began easing policies last month following mass protests.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @KincaidBest.