Japan to start testing travelers from China for COVID-19

Japan will tighten border controls for arrivals from CHINA from December 30 due to a rise in CORONAVIRUS cases in that country, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters, Japan Times reports.

All tourists from China and anyone who has been in mainland China in the past seven days will be tested for covid-19 upon arrival in Japan . Those who are diagnosed with the virus will be sent to a week-long quarantine. The number of flights from China will be monitored to prevent a sudden rise in COVID-19 infections.

Japan opened its borders to foreign tourists in October after two and a half years of restrictions.

On January 8, the Chinese authorities will ease the restrictive measures introduced to combat the spread of the coronavirus, the National HEALTH Commission announced. Those arriving in the country will no longer be sent to mandatory quarantine, it will be possible to enter with a negative test for COVID-19. In addition, from January 8, the restriction on the number of international passenger flights and occupied passenger seats will be lifted.

Since 2020, the Chinese authorities have adhered to a “zero tolerance” policy for the coronavirus, which implies strict restrictions and the possibility of introducing quarantine, which could cover entire cities or areas. Against this background, protests began in the country. After that, the National Health Commission began to ease the restrictions, in particular, the time of home quarantine for those in contact with the sick was reduced to three days.

The rapid lifting of restrictions led to a new outbreak of the disease. In December, almost 250 million people in China, 18% of the country's population, were infected with COVID-19, BLOOMBERG reported citing data from the National Health Commission, which were discussed at a closed meeting of the National Health Commission of China. In just one day on December 20, 37 million people were infected with the coronavirus.