Covid LIVE Updates: India, US, Japan step up new rules on travelers from China

In China, the recent Covid-19 surge has emerged as a ‘source of concern’ for other countries to remain vigilant and step up preparations against the coronavirus infection. With several countries imposing Covid prevention measures for travelers from China, India has also started random testing of international passengers from December 24. 

According to an order by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines are required to direct their crew members to lead and bring identified 2% of international passengers to the testing facility at the airport. India has mandated a Covid-19 negative test report for travelers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.

The US officials also stated that the government may impose new Covid-19 measures on travelers to the country from China over concerns about the lack of transparent data coming from Beijing. 

Some hospitals and funeral homes in China have been overwhelmed as the virus spreads largely unchecked across the country of 1.4 billion people. China said on Monday it would stop requiring inbound travelers to go into quarantine starting from January 8 in a major step towards easing curbs on its borders, which have been largely shut since 2020.

Research groups have predicted that the death toll could rise to millions amid fears that new mutants could emerge as a new wave of infections quickly spreads throughout the vast country.

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