Canada would require COVID-19 testing for flights from China as virus surges

The federal authorities would require COVID-19 testing for travellers coming into Canada from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

Starting on Jan. 5, air travellers arriving in Canada from flights originating from the Individuals’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macau which are two years of age and older will likely be required to current a unfavorable COVID-19 check earlier than boarding the plane to Canada, in accordance with the federal government.

The check have to be taken not more than two days earlier than departure.

“In response to the surge of COVID-19 within the Individuals’s Republic of China and given the restricted epidemiological and viral genomic sequence knowledge obtainable on these circumstances, the Authorities of Canada intends to place in place sure short-term well being measures for air travellers getting into Canada from China,” the federal government mentioned in a launch Saturday.

Passengers who’ve examined optimistic greater than 10 days earlier than their flight, however not more than 90 days, can present their airline with the documentation of their prior optimistic, rather than a unfavorable check, the federal government mentioned.

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The “short-term” measures are deliberate to be in place for 30 days after which reassessed.

“Our actions proceed to be guided by prudence and we is not going to hesitate to regulate measures to guard the well being and security of Canadians,” mentioned Well being Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in an announcement.

When arriving at Canadian airports’ Main Inspection Kiosks and eGates, travellers will even be requested if they’ve travelled to China, Hong Kong or Macau within the final 10 days.

If a traveller has, officers with Canada’s Border Providers Company will present them with further public well being info and what to do in the event that they develop signs of the virus.

This solely applies to air travellers, not these arriving by land.

Moreover, Canada’s public well being company is putting in a pilot venture in place on wastewater testing with Vancouver Worldwide Airport. It is usually increasing an present venture with Toronto Pearson Worldwide Airport.

These initiatives are to evaluate the COVID-19 prevalence from varied areas internationally, the federal government mentioned.

The samples are sequenced to observe for novel variants of concern.

“The protection of travellers and the transportation trade stay prime priorities. Our Authorities continues to take unprecedented motion to guard the well being and security of Canadians by introducing measures to forestall additional introduction and transmission of COVID-19 into Canada,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra mentioned.

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The measures comply with comparable applied guidelines from different nations, together with the U.S. and Japan, as China grapples with a surge of the virus.

China lately reversed public well being measures beneath its “zero-COVID” technique that stored the nation in isolation for practically three years and introduced this week plans to reissue passports and visas for abroad journeys.

This might ship many Chinese language overseas for the Lunar New Yr vacation in January, elevating considerations about potential virus unfold and the danger of mutations to the virus amid fast unfold.

Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Friday mentioned China continues to observe the virus mutations and share info, and confused the significance of a science-based method.

Some European nations have tightened COVID guidelines for flights from China. On Friday, authorities in France, Spain and England mentioned harder measures for passengers arriving from China will likely be applied.

France’s authorities is requiring unfavorable COVID-19 checks from travellers coming from China and is urging French residents to keep away from nonessential journey to the nation. France can also be reintroducing masks necessities on flights from China to France.

French well being authorities will perform random PCR checks at airports on passengers arriving from China to establish potential new coronavirus variants. The brand new guidelines take impact on Sunday, however officers mentioned it will be just a few days earlier than they’re absolutely in place.

The U.Ok. authorities lately introduced that anybody travelling to England on direct flights from China can be required to take a pre-departure check from Jan. 5.

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Well being Secretary Steve Barclay mentioned that the U.Ok. was taking a “balanced and precautionary method.” He described the measures as “short-term” whereas officers assess COVID-19 statistics.

Spain’s authorities mentioned it will require all air passengers coming from China to have unfavorable checks or proof of vaccination.

Well being Minister Carolina Darias informed reporters that Spain can be pushing for comparable measures at a European stage following the surge of circumstances in China. She mentioned coronavirus well being controls can be stepped up at Spanish airports.

Darias didn’t specify when the brand new requirement would take impact.

World Well being Group Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has mentioned the physique wants extra info on the severity of the outbreak in China.

“Within the absence of complete info from China, it’s comprehensible that nations around the globe are performing in ways in which they consider could defend their populations,” he mentioned Friday on Twitter.

“With the intention to make a complete threat evaluation of the COVID-19 state of affairs on the bottom in China, WHO wants extra detailed info.”

— With recordsdata from The Related Press

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