Japan Tests All China Arrivals for COVID Amid Surging Cases

As an immediate response to the escalating infections in China and in light of the country's soaring case numbers and record-high death rate at home, Japan on Friday began demanding COVID-19 tests for all travellers arriving from China.

One day after setting an old record for a single day of 415 deaths, Japan reported a record 420 new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, according to the Health Ministry.

The figures are greater than the daily fatalities, which hit 300 at the height of an earlier wave in August. According to experts, the cause of the most recent spike is unknown but may be related to fatalities from older individuals' chronic conditions getting worse.

On Friday, Japan tightened its border controls by requiring all travellers entering from mainland China to undergo the antigen test that was previously only required for those suspected of having COVID-19. The samples from those who test positive will be utilised for genome analysis, and they will be quarantined for up to seven days at specific facilities.

Prior to the travelling and party-filled New Year's festivities, the measures got underway. For the time being, just four significant Japanese airports will offer direct flights between China and Japan, according to government officials.

As part of a deliberate policy relaxation after effectively barring its doors to foreign tourists for roughly two years, Japan ceased demanding COVID-19 tests for applicants who had at least three shots earlier this year. This year's holiday season is the first without virus restrictions other than recommendations for mask wearing and testing.

Currently, the nation reports 200,000 known cases every day.

At a meeting earlier this week, experts expressed concern that the rapid spread of the flu this winter may put further strain on the healthcare infrastructure.

China recently lifted the anti-virus restrictions that had effectively isolated the nation for over three years, and this week it announced plans to reissue passports and permits for international travel. This could result in a large number of Chinese travelling abroad for the Lunar New Year vacation in January, raising worries about the virus's potential to spread.

India, Italy, South Korea, and Taiwan have all implemented viral screening requirements for travellers from China in response to the Chinese outbreak of diseases. The United States said Wednesday it would require testing of all travelers from China beginning Jan. 5.

Beginning on January 5, South Korea will also require visitors from China to have negative findings from PCR tests within 48 hours or from fast antigen tests within 24 hours of their departure.

All travellers from China will now also be forced to undergo PCR testing within a day after their arrival in South Korea, according to Jee Youngmee, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, who announced the change on Monday. Until the end of February, South Korea will similarly limit the number of flights from China and short-term visas for Chinese people, with the exception of those travelling for official, vital business, or humanitarian purposes.

China had stopped issuing visas to foreigners and passports to its own people at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.