U.S. weighs new measures for travelers from China

The U.S. government is considering imposing new Covid rules on travelers from China, officials said, citing concerns over virus-related data released by the Chinese government.

“There is growing concern in the international community about the ongoing COVID-19 surge in China and the lack of transparent data, including genome sequence data for the virus reported from China,” officials said in a statement late Tuesday. said in

“Without this data, it becomes increasingly difficult for public health officials to identify potential new variants and take rapid action to reduce their spread,” the official said.

Officials point to Japan’s recent step to require negative Covid tests for travelers arriving from mainland China from Dec. 30 – China faces a surge in infections nationwide following abrupt reopening doing.

A notice from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been added stating that travelers from China without a valid vaccination certificate must also undergo pre-departure inspections. The measure does not apply to travelers from Hong Kong and Macau, according to the notice.

When asked to comment on Japan’s measures, China’s foreign ministry stressed the need for “science-based” measures but could not elaborate further.

“The current COVID situation in the world calls for a science-based response approach and collaborative efforts to ensure safe cross-border travel, stabilize global industrial and supply chains, and restore global economic growth. We continue to seek efforts,” said Wang Wenbin. He told reporters at a briefing on Tuesday.

US officials said Malaysia was also taking steps, but India and the World Health Organization expressed concern about the situation in China.

“The United States is following the science and advice of public health experts, consulting with partners, and considering taking similar steps that we can take to protect the American people,” the official said. rice field.

— CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report.