Chinese flights begin screen, allow only passengers with negative Covid-19 test

China’s aviation authority has announced that only passengers who provide negative COVID-19 test results will be allowed to board China-bound flights.

This was disclosed on on Tuesday July 21, 2020, as the government intensify efforts to reduce the risk of imported coronavirus cases.

According to the the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Nucleic acid tests must be completed within five days of embarkation

CAAC stated that the tests should be conducted at facilities designated or recognised by Chinese embassies in host countries.

It added that the embassies would carefully assess the testing capacity of host countries and formulate travel procedures when testing conditions are met.

The announcement comes as countries struggle with testing capacity and speed.

In parts of the United States, receipt of test results can take up to two weeks, while in some other countries, nucleic acid tests are reserved for people who have come in close contact with COVID-19 patients or who have symptoms of the potentially fatal disease.

In the past month, CAAC has allowed more foreign airlines to resume services in China and add flights to the country as the economy recovers.