Three-test coronavirus travel rule satisfies China’s need for strict control but Indians question necessity

India has almost hit 9 million Covid-19 cases and neighbouring China seeks to ensure no new outbreaks are imported by travellers

Testing on arrival in China followed by a quarantine period may be more effective, says chief of public health NGO

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Even though travellers from India to China must take three coronavirus tests, health authorities in Guangdong province found two asymptomatic Covid-19 cases imported from India on November 10. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:00pm, 18 Nov 2020Updated: 11:10pm, 18 Nov 2020

China requires travellers from India to have three Covid-19 tests before boarding a plane. While the approach reflects China’s strict control mentality to detect every case, in India getting all tests done in three days could be a challenge, experts say.

Under the protocol that started on November 7, passengers in India must take their first nucleic acid test up to three days before boarding China-bound flights, followed by a second nucleic acid test and an IgM antibody test up to 36 hours before boarding.

The new rules were introduced after 23 Indian nationals who flew from New Delhi on October 30 tested positive in Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

From November 5, Beijing temporarily suspended the entry of visitors from India who held valid Chinese visas or residence permits. India’s Foreign Ministry responded to the ban, saying “changes can be expected in a timely manner” to the temporary measure, which was not “India-specific” and included restrictions on visitors from other countries.

India is the second-worst hit country by the coronavirus, with nearly 9 million Covid-19 cases. Since summer, troops from China and India have been locked in a sometimes deadly stand-off along the countries’ disputed Himalayan border, resulting in growing tensions between the neighbours.

In India’s latest “boycott China” move, a campaign urged patriotic Indians celebrating Diwali festival to swap cheap China-made LEDs for oil lamps made out of cow dung.

Separately, Hong Kong has banned incoming Air India flights four times since mid-August. Under emergency health regulations, any airline that carries five Covid-19 passengers or more, or two consecutive flights with three or more diagnosed passengers, faces being banned from Hong Kong – even if the passengers had a negative Covid-19 test certificate from within 72 hours of boarding the plane.

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