U.S. Requires Negative Certificates for Those Entering the Country from China - Starting from 5th of next month

Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

米、中国からの入国者に陰性証明義務付け　来月５日から

2022.12.29 Thu posted at 12:14 JST

  （ＣＮＮ） 米当局は来月５日以降、中国からの入国者に新型コロナウイルスの陰性証明を義務付ける方針を明らかにした。

出発前２日以内にＰＣＲ検査または抗原検査を受け、米国行きの便に搭乗する前に陰性証明を提示するよう求める。

対象には中国から直行する乗客のほか、ソウルやトロント、バンクーバーなど第三国の空港を経由する乗客も含まれる。

出発の１０日より前に陽性判定を受けた乗客は、陰性証明の代わりに治癒証明を提示することもできる。

中国では厳格な「ゼロコロナ」政策が解除された後、感染者が急増しているが、米当局者らは中国側からの情報提供が不十分だとして懸念を示してきた。連邦保健当局者は「感染者が入国するリスクを完全に排除することはできないが、その人数を抑え、新たな変異株を早期に警戒することが可能になる」と説明した。

開始の日付は、航空会社が十分な準備時間を確保できるよう来月５日と定めた。いつまで続けるかの見通しは示さず、状況を見守りつつ調整する構えだ。

さらに、米疾病対策センター（ＣＤＣ）が変異株の発生動向を追跡するため、旅行者を対象に実施しているゲノム監視の実施空港にシアトルとロサンゼルスを加えて、計７カ所とする。対象のフライトは少なくとも３０カ国からの週５００便前後で、この中には中国やその周辺地域からの約２９０便が含まれる。

中国に対する水際対策では、日本も３０日以降、入国者に到着時の検査を義務付ける。インドは中国、日本、韓国、香港、タイからの渡航者に陰性証明の提示を義務付けると発表した。

Translation

   (CNN) Starting May 5 - U.S. officials would require travelers from China to prove they were negative for the new coronavirus.

Passengers would be required to take a PCR test or antigen test within two days before departure, and present a negative proof before boarding a flight to the United States.

This would include direct passengers from China as well as passengers transiting through airports in third countries such as Seoul, Toronto and Vancouver.

Passengers who were tested positive more than 10 days before departure might present proof of cure in lieu of negative proof.

U.S. officials had expressed concern that the Chinese side had not provided enough information as the number of confirmed cases surged after China lifted its strict "zero-corona" policy. A federal health official explained, "Although we cannot completely eliminate the risk of infected people entering the country, it will be possible to reduce the number of people, and to provide early warning of new mutations."

The start date was set for the 5th of next month to give airlines enough time to prepare. It did not indicate how long it could continue, and would make adjustments while monitoring the situation.

Furthermore, Seattle and Los Angeles would be added to the airports where the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) could conduct genome monitoring of travelers to track the trends of mutation strains, making a total of seven airports. There were around 500 flights per week from at least 30 countries, including about 290 flights from China and surrounding regions.

Regarding the border measures against China, Japan would also make it mandatory for people entering the country to undergo inspections upon arrival after the 30th. India had announced that travelers from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand would be required to show negative proof.

              So, many countries will require travelers from China to prove they are negative for the new coronavirus. The US CDC is conducting genome monitoring of travelers to track the trends of mutation strains. The new traveling requirements are understandable as they are out of medical needs.