SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 9 February 2025, Sunday |

India to require COVID test for arrivals from China, four other Asian countries

Beginning on Sunday, travelers to India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand will need to present the results of a COVID-19 test that were negative.

According to the minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, travelers from such nations would need to post their test results on a government website run by India before departing.

The health ministry stated in a statement that “this is being done in view of the evolving COVID-19 situation across the world, particularly in the aforesaid nations,” adding that the test should be taken within 72 hours of travel to India.

The new requirement for a COVID test would be in addition to the random tests on 2% of all international passengers arriving in India.

India joins the United States, Japan, Italy and Taiwan in imposing mandatory COVID tests for travellers from China, amid a COVID surge there after authorities relaxed strict “zero-COVID” rules.

Top health officials from the European Union were holding talks on Thursday to try to coordinate very different views on how to respond to China’s decision to lift its COVID-19 restrictions amid a wave of infections there.

    Source:
  • Reuters