Covid rips through China, 10 countries impose curbs on passengers from Jinpingland

Covid-19 is exploding in China even though Xi Jinping says that the "light of hope is right in front of us". In the latest, several more countries have imposed restrictions on travellers coming from China in a bid to stop the entry of possible new Covid-19 variants. 

Countries with restrictions: 

India: Negative RT-PCR test taken before 72 hours of departure is necessary for those travelling from China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand. 

• Moreover, India is testing 2% of passengers on international flights randomly. 

International passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand to India to undergo mandatory RTPCR tests before departure and upload report on Air Suvidha portal from 1st January 2023.

Read here: https://t.co/YcJ35SdVX0 @MoHFW_INDIA

— PIB India (@PIB_India) December 29, 2022

US: Starting January 5, travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macau need to show negative Covid tests taken within 48 hours of departure or either prove to have recovered from the infection in the last 90 days. 

Canada: Negative Covid test report taken within 48 hours of departure necessary for travellers from China. 

UK: Starting January 5, travellers from China will have to undergo pre-departure Covid test and submit a negative report before boarding. 

• UK also plans to test a few passengers to monitor new variants if any. 

European Union: Starting January 5, France, Spain and Italy will require negative Covid tests for travellers from China. France specifies that the test report should be taken within 48 hours of departure. 

• The EU is also set to meet on the issue and issue a possible common policy for entry requirements. 

China’s tourism sector sees a quick recovery in both supply and demand sides during the New Year’s Day holidays as optimized epidemic response policy in the country drives a surge in passenger and traffic flow. It’s good to see that hustle and bustle has come back! pic.twitter.com/i5cGRXwxfa

— Ambassador Hou Yanqi (@China2ASEAN) January 1, 2023

Morocco: The north African country has outright banned travellers from China from January 3. Morocco said it wants to avoid a "new wave of contaminations" and its consequences. 

Israel: Negative Covid tests are necessary for those coming from China. Testing booths have also been set up at airports for those who volunteer. 

Japan: The East Asian country was the first to impose restrictions on travellers from China. All passengers coming from China will be tested for Covid on arrival. 

• Those who test positive will be quarantined for seven days. 
• Japan has also cut down the number of flights coming from China. 

South Korea: Passengers coming from China will have to undergo Covid testing before and after arriving in South Korea.

• Seoul is also restricting the number of visas being issued on short-term and also scaling back on the number of flights from China. 

Australia: Passengers from China, Hong Kong and Macau need to provide a negative Covid test before arrival. 

What Xi Jinping said: On the other hand, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping spoke about Covid for the first time after easing restrictions and announcing the plan to roll back the zero-Covid policy from January 8.

Is China hiding the reality of Covid situation? China reported over 7,000 new infections and one death on Saturday (December 31). However, several countries and the WHO believe that China is not releasing the real extent of the spread of Covid-19 and the numbers are downplaying the situation. 

“This is Anshan City, #Liaoning Province. They all say [this] doesn't kill people, see how many have died. Full of people. Mortuaries are all full. The underground garage was temporarily converted into one. See how many. I am not exaggerating.”#chinacovid #ChinaCovidCases #China pic.twitter.com/BXTHADJwKt

— Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng 曾錚真言 (@jenniferzeng97) December 27, 2022

• Australia and Canada have both cited "lack of comprehensive information" on Covid situation from Beijing as the reason for the Covid curbs. 
• WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the Covid curbs by various countries on travellers from China as "understandable". 

• WHO also met with Chinese officials on December 30 urging Beijing to share real-time data on Covid.