China tightens test requirements for passengers from US after imported cases spike

China has tightened requirements for passengers flying in from the US amid a spike in imported cases among those traveling from the US.

Despite the inconvenience the stricter rules have created for those wishing to return to China, health experts and passengers said such measures are necessary as the worsening COVID- 19 situation in the US and discovery of fake test reports are threatening China’s epidemic control.

Amid a spike in imported cases from the US, the Chinese embassy in the US requires IgM serum antibody tests be performed through venous blood sampling only, and samples taken by finger prick are no longer acceptable starting Wednesday. Both antibody and nucleic acid tests must specify the testing methodology, the embassy posted on its website on Saturday.

To avoid infections during transit, passengers must be tested at laboratories on a list authorized by the embassy in the direct flight departure cities. Passengers are not allowed to board before providing negative reports and other documents.

The US on Saturday local time reported a world new high of more than 400,000 daily infections.

Yang Zhanqiu, a Beijingbased virologist, told the Global

Times that although international arrivals will get tested and quarantined after landing in China, it is necessary to make sure they were not infected before boarding. “Otherwise they may infect other passengers during the trip and pose a danger to airport and quarantine hotel staff.”

According to the Chinese embassy, the tighter requirements aim to close the loophole of infections during domestic transit and fake, inaccurate testing reports.

Roughly half of travelers got infected during transit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry earlier revealed. The embassy also found cases where prospective passengers colluded with labs to counterfeit negative reports, or uploaded positive test reports in the hope that the embassy would not check carefully.