U.S. Weighs New COVID Rules for China Travelers, Officials Say

By: News Team

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U.S. Weighs New COVID Rules for China Travelers, Officials Say

The U.S. government may impose new COVID-19 measures on travelers arriving in the country from China amid concerns about the “lack of transparent data” coming from Beijing, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

The move comes after Japan, India and Malaysia announced stricter rules for travelers from China in the past 24 hours, citing a surge in infections there.

Japan has said it would require a negative COVID-19 test on arrival for travelers from China. Malaysia implemented additional monitoring and surveillance measures.

“There is growing concern in the international community about increases in COVID-19 (cases) in China and the lack of transparent data, including viral genomic sequence data, being reported from the PRC,” the officials said, using the initials of the People’s Republic of China.

Some hospitals and funeral homes in China have been overwhelmed as the virus spreads largely unchecked through the country of 1.4 billion people.

However, official statistics showed only one COVID death in the seven days through Monday, raising doubts among health experts and residents about the government’s data. The numbers are inconsistent with the experience of much less populous countries after they reopened.

China said on Monday it would stop requiring incoming travelers to enter quarantine from Jan. 8, in a major step toward easing restrictions at its borders, which have been largely closed since 2020.

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