All travelers arriving in Italy from China will be tested for COVID-19 after an alarming number of passengers landing in Milan were found to have the disease, the Italian Health Ministry announced.
The statement, by Health Minister Orazio Schillaci, came after almost half of the passengers on two flights from China to Milan reportedly had COVID, according to Bloomberg.
In cases where the tests are positive, the ministry said they will carry out “molecular tests for the sequencing of the virus.”
“The measure is essential to ensure surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus,” said a statement on the ministry’s website.
COUNTRIES IMPLEMENT COVID TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHINESE TRAVELERS AMID TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS
Travelers walk in a terminal at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, on March 23, 2022.
(Reuters/Tingshu Wang)
In case of detection of a new variant, Italy may impose stricter travel restrictions on those coming from China, Bloomberg reported.
Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy and the US have also announced testing requirements for passengers arriving from China.
BIDEN TO REGULATE TRAVEL FROM CHINA AFTER PREVIOUSLY CALLING TRUMP XENOPHOBIC
The United States has cited rising infections and what it says was a lack of transparency on the part of the Chinese government, including the genomic sequencing of virus strains in the country.
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“These data are critical to effectively monitor rising cases and decrease the possibility of entry of a new variant of concern,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The US requirement will take effect on January 5, 2023 and will apply to all travelers, regardless of their nationality or vaccination status.
Julia Musto of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
