The US agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Wednesday (Dec 28) to implement the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery for air passengers boarding flights to the United States originating from china and the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Starting at 12:01 AM ET on January 5, all air passengers two years and older originating from china will be required to get a Covid-19 test no more than 2 days before their departure from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and show a negative test result to the airline upon departure.
The CDC further mentioned :
The requirement applies to these air passengers regardless of nationality and vaccination status.
This will also apply to persons traveling from china via third-country transit and to passengers connecting through the United States onward to further destinations.
Along with applying this requirement to direct flights from china, passengers transiting Incheon International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport on their way to the United States will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test if they have been in china 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 china and the Special Administrative Regions.
Passengers who tested positive more than 10 days before the flight can provide documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in lieu of a negative test result.
Airlines must confirm the negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery for all passengers before they board or deny boarding to the passenger.
CDC said these steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, citing the report of the surge in COVID-19 cases in china and the lack of adequate data from china.
Other countries have taken similar steps in an effort to keep infections from spreading beyond China’s borders. Japan will require a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival for travelers from China, and Malaysia announced new tracking and surveillance measures. India, South Korea, and Taiwan are requiring virus tests for visitors from China.
