CHICAGO, Dec 28 (Reuters) – The United States will introduce mandatory COVID-19 tests on travelers from China, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday, joining India, Italy, Japan and Taiwan in taking new measures following Beijing’s decision to lift strict zero-Covid guidelines.
The officials told reporters that starting Jan. 5, all air passengers age 2 and older will require a negative test result no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macao.
Passengers who test positive more than 10 days before a flight can provide documentation of recovery in lieu of the negative test result, federal officials said.
They attributed the change in policy to the lack of information about variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and concerns that the increased number of COVID cases in China could lead to the development of new variants of the virus.
The United States is also expanding its voluntary airport genomic sequencing program, adding Seattle and Los Angeles to the program. That brings the total number of airports collecting information from positive tests to seven.
In an abrupt shift in policy, China this month began dismantling the world’s strictest COVID regime of lockdowns and widespread testing, setting its battered economy on course for a full reopening next year.
The lifting of restrictions, after widespread protests against them, means that COVID is spreading largely unchecked and likely infecting millions of people a day, according to some international health experts.
Beijing has faced international criticism that its official COVID data and death tolls do not match the scale of the outbreak.
“We only have limited information in terms of what is being shared related to the number of cases increasing, hospitalizations and especially deaths. Also, there has been a decline in testing across China, so that also makes it difficult to know what the true infection rate is” , an American health professional told the briefing.
[1/2] People enter the baggage claim area from the international arrivals terminal as the US reopens air and land borders to travelers vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the first time since the covid-19 restrictions were imposed, at Sea-Tac Airport in Seattle, Washington, U.S. November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson
Given the large number of people in China who have not been exposed to the virus, the introduction of Omicron variants and the rollback of China’s zero-COVID policy, US officials are concerned that there will be a large number of infections that will lead to hospitalizations and deaths in China, the official said.
Some global health experts have said the virus could infect as many as 1 million people per day, and international modeling groups have predicted China could experience 2 million deaths or more.
Earlier this week, US officials cited the “lack of transparent data” from China, a persistent complaint from Washington about China’s handling of the pandemic, as a reason to consider its own travel restrictions.
US and Chinese approaches to combating COVID have been markedly different throughout the pandemic.
High infection rates in the US early in the pandemic gave Beijing room to argue that the model of strict COVID prevention measures had saved lives.
China has struggled to vaccinate its elderly population and has yet to approve foreign mRNA vaccines. The overall vaccination rate is above 90%, but the rate for adults who have received booster shots drops to 57.9%, and to 42.3% for people aged 80 and older, according to data from Chinese authorities last week.
The country has nine domestically developed COVID vaccines approved for use, but none have been updated to target the highly contagious Omicron variant.
US officials said at the briefing that they have offered mRNA vaccines and other support to China, but Chinese officials have said publicly that they do not need US assistance at this time. “We continue to stand by our offer,” an official said.
In June, the United States lifted a 17-month-old requirement that people arriving in the country by air test negative for COVID-19. It still requires most non-US citizens to be vaccinated against COVID to travel to the US.
Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Additional reporting by Eric Beech and Michael Martina in Washington; Editing by Howard Goller
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Is rapid pcr test accepted for travel to canada?
Molecular testing (Lab RT-PCR, Rapid RT-PCR) Canadian border accepted.
What rapid Covid tests does Canada accept? “Which COVID-19 tests does Canada accept?” On the same subject : This travel company wants tourists to visit Ukraine right now.
- NAAT Molecular (Abbott ID Now)
- Rapid RT-PCR.
- Same-day PCR (lab-based)
- Next-day PCR (lab-based)
- Rapid antigen.
- Arrange a meeting.
Is rapid antigen test OK for travel to Canada from us?
Travelers will now have the option of using a COVID-19 rapid antigen test result (taken the day before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or the naval port …
What type of pcr test is required to enter canada?
Schedule your COVID-19 test here! Currently, all travelers to Canada must show a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test result, taken no more than one day before departure. Read also : What Covid-19 precautions should people take for international travel?.
How reliable are rapid tests?
Rapid antigen tests are most accurate when used in people who have signs or symptoms of COVID-19, especially during the first week of illness. This may interest you : China begins new military exercises as a US delegation visits Taiwan. People who test negative may still be infected.
Can the rapid Covid test give a false positive? There is also a chance that a COVID-19 rapid antigen test may give false positive results if you do not follow the instructions carefully. False-positive results mean that the test results show an infection when there actually isn’t one.
How common is a false positive COVID test?
In the same period, there were 5,079 negative tests; thus a total of 5,110 tests were carried out. The false positive rate (positive single gene low level) during this period was 0.5% (26/5110), giving a specificity of 99.5% (5,079/5,105). In the same period, the true positive rate was 16% (5/31).
Are rapid antigen tests false positive?
Using summary results for symptomatic people tested during the first week after symptom onset, if 1,000 people with symptoms had the antigen test, and 50 (5%) of them actually had COVID-19: 45 people would test positive for COVID -19. Of these, 5 people (11%) would not have covid-19 (false positive result).
How do I get a rapid Covid test in Seattle?
CVS Health offers rapid result testing for COVID-19 – limited appointments now available for patients who qualify. Fast results From swab collection to delivery of the results, this process will usually produce results within hours.
How long is PCR results?
COVID-19 test results for COVID-19 PCR and COVID-19 Serology (IgM) will be available within 24 – 36 hours after administration of the respective test. For the COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test, results will be available within 15 minutes of administration.
What is a rapid PCR? Two types of COVID-19 tests are popular: the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and the antigen test, also known as the rapid test. Both tests require a sample from the patient, usually a nasal swab.
Are rapid PCR tests accurate?
RT-PCR tests are very accurate when performed correctly by healthcare professionals, but the rapid test may miss some cases. Antigen test. This COVID-19 test detects certain proteins in the virus. Using a long nasal swab to obtain a fluid sample, some antigen tests can provide results in minutes.
