US to require Covid tests for travelers from China

The Biden administration announced on Wednesday it would require anyone arriving by air from China to provide a negative Covid test, following a surge of Covid-19 cases across China as Beijing eased its strict rules. of zero-Covid.

Under the new rules, which come into effect on January 5, anyone aged two and over will have to show a negative result from a test taken within two days of leaving airports in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. , administration officials said. journalists during a briefing.

The move reflects the Biden administration’s alarm over the potential for the spread of new Covid variants linked to soaring Covid infections in China. The Chinese government ended its draconian Covid-zero policy – ​​hinged on mass testing, tracing and lockdowns – on December 7 following mass protests in November fueled by anger over the strategy.