After Japan, the US Also Considers Strengthening Quarantine for Arrivals from China (Comprehensive)

China Reacts to Japan's Quarantine Strengthening... "Disease Control Must Be Scientific"
Concerns Over Variant Virus Emergence Amid Rapid Spread

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Kim Hyunjung] Bloomberg reported on the 27th (local time) that the United States is considering strengthening quarantine measures for arrivals from China.

The news agency cited anonymous U.S. officials, stating that the government is considering new COVID-19 prevention measures related to arrivals from China. The report explained, "The government is concerned about the surge in (COVID-19) cases in China" and "raised questions about the transparency of data related to the virus spread in China." However, it noted that internal discussions are still ongoing and did not specify concrete quarantine policies.

Earlier, Japan announced it would strengthen related entry restrictions as COVID-19 cases rapidly increase in China. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida explained the background, saying, "While there is information that infections are rapidly spreading on the Chinese mainland, detailed situations are difficult to grasp due to significant discrepancies in information between central and local governments, as well as between government and private sectors, causing growing anxiety within Japan."

According to this measure, all people departing from China and entering Japan, as well as those with a travel history to China within the past seven days, must undergo COVID-19 testing upon entry starting from the 30th. South Korea included China in its 'targeted quarantine countries' list from the 16th and strengthened the fever screening criteria for symptomatic arrivals from China from 37.5℃ to 37.3℃.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

China has expressed discomfort with these measures. On the 27th, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded to a foreign reporter's question about Japan's entry restrictions at a regular briefing, stating, "Currently, all parties should fight the epidemic scientifically and ensure safe exchanges among people of all countries," emphasizing, "We must cooperate to maintain the stability of global industrial chains and supply chains to promote the recovery of the world economy." He also self-praised, saying, "Since the outbreak of the epidemic three years ago, the Chinese government has consistently adhered to scientific and accurate principles, continuously optimizing various prevention and control measures according to changes in the epidemic situation, making important contributions to economic and social development."

Recently, amid a surge in confirmed cases, China announced it would lower the infectious disease classification of COVID-19 and, starting from August next year, will no longer quarantine inbound travelers. The National Health Commission has also stopped announcing daily new COVID-19 case numbers.

Some express concerns that China’s sudden abandonment of high-intensity epidemic prevention policies could lead to the emergence of variant viruses during the short-term mass infection process. The Japanese government’s announcement to isolate and conduct viral genetic analysis on positive cases among arrivals from China at waiting facilities is interpreted in the same context. The Japanese Mainichi Shimbun also reported that China instructed domestic research institutions not to conduct COVID-19 genome analysis.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.