The UK will not impose mandatory Covid tests on visitors arriving from China as cases surge across the country.
Scientists have predicted that there will be over one million Covid-related deaths next year after China’s rapid lifting of lockdown restrictions caused a sharp spike in cases across the country.
China made the decision earlier in the month to abolish its “zero-Covid” approach which included mass lockdowns and testing.
Kirsty O'Connor
China made the decision earlier in the month to abolish its “zero-Covid” approach which included mass lockdowns and testing.
The Chinese public grew increasingly frustrated at the measures, many of which the West have not had imposed on them in over a year.
Protesters began taking to the streets, using blank sheets of paper to express their anger in a rare, widespread outpouring of public dissent.
However, as a result of the restrictions being lifted, the virus has started to run rampant through the country, whose population sits at 1.4billion.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “There are no plans to reintroduce Covid-19 testing or additional requirements for arrivals into the UK.”
Kirsty O'Connor
Now, the US has joined Italy, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan in announcing new measures after the abrupt end of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy sparked a surge in cases.
However, a UK Government spokesperson said: “There are no plans to reintroduce Covid-19 testing or additional requirements for arrivals into the UK.”
The spokesperson added the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will continue to closely monitor the prevalence and spread of harmful variants and keep available international data under review.
In the US, starting on January 5, all travellers from China will be required to take a Covid-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative test before getting on their flight.
The testing applies to anyone two years and older.
