US To Require Negative COVID-19 Test For Chinese Visitor Entry
COVID, The United States government is considering requiring that any Chinese visitors be subjected to a negative COVID-19 test to avoid potential exposure to a deadly strain of the virus. China has seen its number of cases increase to the highest level in months, and its foreign ministry is encouraging parties involved in the fight against the epidemic to work together. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined several ways in which the U.S. might expand its surveillance of travelers, including expanding its genetic surveillance program to seven major airports in the country.
Cases in China have risen to their highest level in months
As the number of cases in China has risen to its highest in months, the government is attempting to show the nation that it has the capacity to cope with such an outbreak. But while the national government is attempting to do its part, there are still serious questions about the healthcare system’s ability to fight off such a disease.
When SARS was first detected in Guangdong, Chinese officials initially covered up the outbreak. However, once the news reached its apex, the scale of the crisis became clear.
A team of doctors and epidemiologists from the Ministry of Health arrived in Guangdong on January 20. This was not only the first time an official delegation from the country’s top health bureau had been to the southern city, but also the first time a senior-level official had visited Guangdong.
Until then, local authorities had been unable to establish central control over the epidemic. Instead, the outbreak was managed through a combination of quarantines, mass testing, and tight monitoring.
China’s government has conditionally authorized several vaccines for foreigners residing in the country
The United States is considering new travel restrictions on Chinese visitors. Currently, China’s borders remain closed to most foreign nationals. However, Beijing has relaxed some of its strict COVID rules.
The United States is taking proactive measures to protect the public from the spread of disease. In addition to updating travel guidelines, U.S. officials are also working with other U.S. agencies to rapidly deploy materials.
A senior administration official said the new policy was a response to the lack of adequate genomic sequencing data. It was also prompted by the fact that travelers from China are now required to show negative Covid tests before they enter the U.S.
Passengers from China, South Korea, and Canada will be required to get a negative test two days before they fly. International arrivals must complete a PCR test twice, and a negative Covid test will be needed for travelers over the age of two.
CDC’s Traveler Genomic Surveillance program expands to seven airports
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded the traveler-based SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance program. This program collects anonymous nasal swabs from arriving international travelers at major U.S. airports. It is a voluntary swabbing program designed to help reduce the spread of new variants.
According to CDC, the Traveler Genomic Surveillance (TGS) program has filled in some of the gaps in global SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance. By combining samples from travelers who have been exposed to COVID-19 with those who have not, the CDC can assess trends in variant transmission. In addition, TGS is collecting data from more than 500 weekly flights to monitor the transmission of the virus from China.
This expanded biosurveillance program will also include a new testing site at Washington Dulles International Airport, as well as additional locations in existing airports. This will help CDC more effectively track COVID-19.
As the world grapples with the spread of COVID-19, health experts are concerned about the emergence of new variants. With the rapid rise in transmission, there is a greater potential for new strains of the disease to spread. A pilot program to detect new variants began in September 2021.
China’s foreign ministry urges parties to work against the epidemic
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged all parties to work together to combat an epidemic threatening the world. A major strain of the coronavirus, COVID-19, is rapidly spreading in China, according to health experts. As the virus mutates with every new infection, scientists worry about whether it will spread to other countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging China to share more data with international researchers. However, the country has been slow to release information, and some experts have questioned whether it is sharing information with other nations. It has been reported that some workers at the Foxconn factory have been infected.
A Vanity Fair story attributed the outbreak to a lab accident in Wuhan. Several European Union members have mandated tests for passengers coming from China. But the EU executive branch has not followed Italy, which has stopped its passengers from coming from China.
