Amid rising Covid-19 cases, European nations have enacted stricter regulations for travellers arriving from China. The United Kingdom on Friday unveiled new regulations according to which passengers taking direct flights from the Chinese mainland to England will have to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test conducted no more than two days prior to departure beginning on January 5, reported news agency ANI.
France too declared on Friday it will demand a negative test result acquired within two days of departure from Chinese air travellers. The regulation is likely to come into force from January 1.
Even those with stopovers, would be subject to the test. All passengers would be required to board the flight with masks, reported ANI, citing NHK world.
One the same day, the Spanish government declared that visitors from China must have a negative test result or immunization documentation.
Meanwhile, Japan also imposed Mandatory testing of travellers from China for COVID-19 said the Kyodo news agency, as reported by ANI.
The measure applies to travellers from mainland China and those who visited it within the past seven days. They are required to take a COVID-19 test upon their arrival in Japan. Those who test positive will be quarantined for seven days.
In November, China saw a record increase in COVID-19 outbreaks.
Due to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation, the authorities introduced partial lockdowns in some areas while also forcing their residents to undergo PCR testing on a daily basis.
In particular, starting from November 24, restrictive measures were tightened in a number of China's major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai.
Meanwhile, India has also made RT-PCR test mandatory for passengers coming from China and five other countries.
In view of the rising cases, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday urged states to work in tandem with Centre as done in the previous Covid wave.