The UK government is considering imposing travel restrictions on people arriving from China after the number of Covid cases in the country rose.
On Thursday, Downing Street said the situation was “monitored” although “there are no plans to take any action at this time”.
Rumors are growing that the UK may follow the lead of the US, Italy, Japan and Taiwan in requiring arrivals from China to test themselves for Covid while the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors the situation.
If implemented, they would be the first Covid-related restrictions in the UK in nearly a year since Boris Johnson’s government lifted all of its pandemic-related measures as part of its ‘Living with Covid’ plans.
A spokesperson for #10 said: “We are monitoring the situation and the UKHSA is monitoring public health. At the moment, there are no plans to introduce new tests for Covid-19 for arrivals.”
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told reporters in Manchester that the situation was “currently being assessed”.
This was announced by the former Minister of Health, Lord Bethell. today A program that would see ministers “seriously consider” mandatory Covid testing for travelers from China, according to Steve Brian, a Tory leader on the Health Committee. time radio that the lesson three years ago when Covid first hit China was that “time is of the essence.”
On Wednesday, the US announced that all arrivals from China would have to test negative for Covid from New Year’s Eve, while Italy said anyone arriving from China that tested positive would have to go into quarantine.
China will reopen its borders and allow people to travel from Jan. 8 and lift lockdown restrictions earlier this month after a wave of protests against tough lockdown measures led to a spike in Covid cases in the country.
Source: I News
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