China has reopened borders, and now the U.S. is enforcing a new rule for travelers coming from the country. Starting January 5th, all travelers from China will be required to show a negative Covid-19 test result before flying into the U.S.
To come into the United States, all passengers from China who are two years old and older must receive a negative test at most two days before departure from China, Hong Kong, or Macau. The rule also applies to anyone traveling from China via a third country or those connecting through the U.S. to another country.
The Centers for Disease Control announced the travel restriction Wednesday, citing China’s recent uptick in Covid cases. Despite the uptick, China has eliminated its zero-Covid policy, loosening travel restrictions.
The agency also says the country’s lack of accurate data would make it more difficult for federal health officials to identify variants of concern if they arise. Without precise data, there is no way to know how many infected people there are. The law comes as air travel ticket sales soar to and from China.
Italian health authorities have announced they will also begin testing travelers from China. This comes after about half of the passengers on board two flights headed to Milan tested positive for the virus. German authorities say they are monitoring the situation.
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