China requires people arriving by air to test negative for virus first

Passengers of China-bound flights must provide negative Covid-19 test results before boarding, China's aviation authority said yesterday, as the government looks to further reduce the risk of imported coronavirus cases amid increased international travel. The CAAC said on its website that nucleic acid tests should be conducted at facilities designated or recognised by Chinese embassies in host countries, and the embassies will carefully assess the testing capacity of host countries and formulate travel procedures when testing conditions are met, it added. The announcement comes as countries struggle with testing capacity and speed. In parts of the US, receipt of test results can take up to two weeks, while in some other countries, nucleic acid tests are reserved for people who have come in close contact with Covid-19 patients or who have symptoms of the potentially fatal disease. In the past month, the CAAC has allowed more foreign airlines to resume services to China and add flights to the country as the economy recovers.<br/>