US officials said the US was considering imposing restrictions on travelers from China, following Beijing this month significantly easing measures to contain the virus, AFP reported. virus.
And infections have spread across China as major pillars of the zero Covid policy have been rolled back, prompting US officials to express concern about the possibility of new variants emerging.
Those possibilities became more realistic on Monday, with Beijing announcing plans to lift mandatory quarantines for overseas arrivals starting Jan. 8 and many Chinese rushing to book overseas travel.
US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that there are “growing concerns in the international community about the continued increase in infections in China and the lack of transparency in data there, including data on the genetic sequence of the virus”.
Beijing authorities have acknowledged that it is “impossible” to trace the spread of the virus and have sidestepped statistics on severe cases, as well as narrowing the criteria by which deaths from Covid are calculated.
And US officials said what was of greatest concern overseas was the lack of genetic sequence data, which makes it “increasingly difficult for public health officials to ensure they can identify any new variants and take immediate action.” to limit its spread. ” The United States ‘follows science and the advice of public health experts, consults with its partners, and considers taking similar steps for itself … to protect the American people,’ referring to Japan, India and Malaysia, who have announced health measures to prevent any spread of the virus from China.
With China easing measures, the curtain falls on the zero Covid policy, which includes mass testing, closures and long quarantine periods, which has disrupted supply chains around the world and hampered trade cooperation with the world’s second largest economy.
