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Home » News » Official: US Adds Testing Requirement For Air Passengers From China
chinaNews

Official: US Adds Testing Requirement For Air Passengers From China

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 28, 2022November 13, 2023 24 Comments

an airplane parked on a runway

Rumors have been swirling that the United States will add coronavirus travel restrictions for China and that policy has now been announced. Travelers, regardless of nationality, flying to the United States from China will be asked to present a negative COVID-19 test.

US Will Require Negative COVID-19 Test From Air Passengers From China

After three years, Mainland China (PRC) has abandoned its “zero COVID” policy. Not surprisingly, cases are exploding there. China has resisted far more effective western vaccines and in keeping citizens isolated for years, has weakened the immune systems of its citizens.

While state media and Chinese government officials have reported low daily death numbers, there is widespread belief that such numbers do not accurately reflect reality. Indeed, China has stopped reporting new daily case numbers, instead saying, “From now on, the Chinese CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) will release relevant COVID information for reference and research.”

With cases on the rise and no transparency concerning case and death numbers or even the kind of COVID-19 infecting people (there is concern that a new and potentially more lethal strain may emerge from China suddenly opening the floodgates), the US is adding travel restrictions to incoming Chinese travelers. This comes ahead of the busy Lunar New Year, which typically represents the height of the Chinese travel season.

Beginning at 12:01 am EST on January 5, 2023, all travelers to the USA from China including the Mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau) will be required to provide a COVID-19 test (antigen or PCR) not more than two days before travel. This applies to all travelers aged two and older. Those who can provide proof of a positive test more than 10 days prior to travel do not need to provide a fresh negative test.

Other countries, including Japan, India, South Korea, and Taiwan have announced similar measures. Malaysia will even track Chinese visitors.

This new testing requirement does not target Chinese citizens; it applies to all air travelers departing China. This will also apply to persons traveling from the PRC via third country transit and to passengers connecting through the United States onward to further destinations.

Importantly, along with applying this requirement to direct flights from the PRC, passengers transiting Incheon International Airport (ICN), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on their way to the United States will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test if they have been in the PRC in the last 10 days no more than 2 days before their departure to the United States. These three transit hubs cover the overwhelming majority of passengers with travel originating in the PRC and the Special Administrative Regions.

It is not clear if China will retaliate in any way for these new travel restrictions.

CONCLUSION

As China re-opens its borders for the first time in nearly three years, the US is tightening them, if ever so slightly. Travelers from China, regardless of nationality, will be required to present a negative test not more than two days old starting on January 5, 2023.

image: Bill Abbott

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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24 Comments

  1. ECH Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    China turns to lemons, peaches and traditional medicine in wake of Covid wave https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/27/china-covid-lemons-peaches-and-tcm-bought-as-protection-from-virus.html. How many people were censored and called crazy for daring to suggest natural methods for immune system strengthening? CNN told me Vitamin C was a conspiracy theory.

    • Dick Bupkiss Reply
      December 28, 2022 at 8:15 pm

      Still pushing those horse worm pills with a Clorox chaser, Vladimir?

    • Aaron Reply
      December 29, 2022 at 4:08 am

      Except there is nothing in the article that states that any those will prevent and/or cure Covid, just that there is a demand for these items in China.

  2. Santastico Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 4:21 pm

    Wasn’t a Chinese travel ban considered “xenophobic” in March 2020?

    • Jake K Reply
      December 28, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      Requiring testing for passengers coming from a place with seemingly high infection rate is hardly a travel ban.

    • Stuart Reply
      December 28, 2022 at 7:11 pm

      Your neighbor is laughing that you thought a testing mandate is the same as a travel ban.

      • Santastico Reply
        December 28, 2022 at 9:25 pm

        And you just went to take another shot in your ass. That’s how you like it.

        • Aaron Reply
          December 29, 2022 at 4:02 am

          Stop projecting your own fantasies onto others.

    • Jimmy Reply
      December 29, 2022 at 6:39 pm

      It’s like most things: Only racist when Republicans do it.

  3. Courtney Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    Requiring American citizens to acquire a negative COVID test taken in China is dangerous.

  4. Mr G Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 6:10 pm

    And so it begins again. How long before the whole world shuts down just like 2020.

  5. Jared Houser Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 7:38 pm

    Why are we moving backwards! This is so stupid, can the 2024 election just happen already.

    Let’s go Brandon!

    • Aaron Reply
      December 29, 2022 at 4:03 am

      Who is Brandon, and where are you going with him?

    • UA-NYC Reply
      December 29, 2022 at 12:57 pm

      You sound like a YUGE supporter of a four time loser. Good company!

  6. Jake K Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 7:42 pm

    “It is not clear if China will retaliate in any way for these new travel restrictions.”

    I thought China still has that onery 48 hour and then another 24 hour prior to flying negative PCR test requirement, and then the quarantine on top of that. I’ve read that even after they eliminate quarantine in January, they will still require testing before flying and after arrival. It will be a shame, but not surprising, if they feel a need to keep the quarantine as a retaliatory act.

  7. Maryland Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 7:44 pm

    The peaches, lemons or whatever idea are coming from a country without a good vaccine. They certainly will not hurt anyone. What CNN (as I recall) cited in trials high doses of vitamin C &D might cause stomach acid & cramps. There was no evidence in curing covid or prevention. But heck it’s a free country so go for it. And I am beyond trying to argue hygiene & safety with another. You do you and I’ll tend me. Oh and please don’t respond with a based link. Good night

  8. derek Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    Please no fake news. ” China has resisted far more effective western vaccines and in keeping citizens isolated for years, has weakened the immune systems of its citizens.” What evidence is there for this? The immune systems of Chinese citizens are likely unchanged and the same as Japanese, French, Americans, or Brazilians.

    Isolation does not weaken the immune system. The entire world was isolated from Covid for centuries because Covid didn’t exist. That did not weaken mankind.

    What is true to say is that use of less effective vaccines does not build immunity. Getting Covid may provide some immunity for future Covid but it’s not absolute as millions have gotten Covid more than once. Getting Covid also risks potentially serious long Covid conditions and possible pulmonary fibrosis decades later. Pulmonary fibrosis is a terrible disease to have. You feel like you are choking. It’s like emphysema.

    Another topic. Didn’t President Biden say it was racist when the travel ban from China was started at the beginning of the pandemic. Is this current action also racist?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 28, 2022 at 8:52 pm

      This isn’t a ban.

      • Santastico Reply
        December 28, 2022 at 9:39 pm

        Really? When there was a travel ban back in 2020 there was a huge difference: there were no Covid tests available. Thus, it had to ban all flights coming from China if they wanted to at least try to contain it. Now there are tests so although not a full ban, anyone that tests positive won’t be able to come to the US. Now, anyone that tests positive elsewhere can still fly here with no restrictions. So, isn’t this targeting flights coming from China only?

        • Aaron Reply
          December 29, 2022 at 4:06 am

          “Now, anyone that tests positive elsewhere can still fly here with no restrictions.”

          ?

      • Observer Reply
        December 29, 2022 at 6:44 pm

        How is that an important distinction?
        Singling out travelers from China in one way is racist, but singling them in another way (both times due to the same concern with them spreading Covid) is different, and morally acceptable? This reeks of hypocrisy.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          December 29, 2022 at 6:51 pm

          I never called the Trump policy racist…

  9. David Reply
    December 28, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    Do we know if this test requirement will apply to transit passengers? Just a few hours before this news was announced, I bought a ticket to fly BKK-HKG-SFO – just a few hours airside at HKG during transit.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 29, 2022 at 12:41 am

      This is not clear yet. A great question.

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