Rule changes for passengers traveling to China have been announced by several Chinese embassies over the past few days.
People traveling to China from certain countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and Poland, will now require a negative coronavirus test within 48 hours of travel, instead of the previous five days.
Starting on Friday, passengers coming into China directly from the US and Canada will be required to take both a nucleic acid and IgM antibody test.
Those who receive a negative result will then be able to apply for a health status declaration or a green health QR code at the Chinese embassy in their country of origin.
For those coming into China from the US or Canada and transiting through a third country, however, the rules are even more complex.
These passengers must take the tests in their home country AND the country of transit and apply for health codes and declarations in both the country of origin and the transit country.
Meanwhile, the Chinese government has advised those coming from other countries against transiting through the US, where they say airports are not equipped to do the required testing.
The Chinese embassy in the UK has also issued a notice that from Saturday, a similar system to the one about to be launched in the US will be put in place.
All passengers will be required to take both a nucleic and IgM antibody test within 48 hours of boarding and apply to the consulates general in Manchester, Edinburgh or Belfast for health codes and declarations.
Similar notices have been posted on the websites of Chinese embassies in France, Italy and some other European countries, according to Shine.
