UK, France to Require COVID-19 Tests for Arrivals from China

The UK and France are set to require negative COVID-19 tests for travelers arriving from China.

France will call on travelers arriving from China to provide a negative Covid-19 test result less than 48 hours old before departure, the health ministry said in a statement. The comers from China will also have to wear masks.

Meanwhile, the UK was getting ready to unveil mandatory testing, as The Telegraph revealed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had weighed in to take the step.

British Health secretary Steve Barclay said it was right for the UK to take “a balanced and precautionary approach by announcing these temporary measures while we assess the data”.

On Friday, Malaysia said it would screen all international arrivals from China for fever as well.

Beijing hit out at the growing number of countries imposing Covid-19 testing requirements on travelers from China.

South Korea and Spain were the latest countries on Friday to join the US, India, and others in imposing Covid tests on people traveling from China, amid soaring cases there.

“The real intention is to sabotage China’s three years of Covid-19 control efforts and attack the country’s system,” state-run tabloid Global Times said in an article, calling the restrictions “unfounded” and “discriminatory.”