The United States will lift the COVID-19 test requirement for travelers from China starting this Friday

Washington Dulles International Airport United States. (Wikimedia Commons/Dbenbenn)

JAKARTA - The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to lift mandatory COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers from China starting Friday, a step that several other countries have already taken beforehand, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Last week, Japan lifted the requirement for everyone to be tested for the virus upon arrival from China. The US decision was previously reported by the Washington Post.

The source told Reuters the United States would continue to monitor cases in China and around the world, as quoted March 8. However, the CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The United States in early January joined India, Canada, Italy, Japan and other countries in adopting fresh restrictions, following Beijing's decision to lift its strict zero-Covid policy. That means new air passengers aged 2 and over must have a negative test result no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macau.

China has been hit by a spike in COVID-19 cases, having abruptly abandoned its zero-COVID policy in early December, spreading the virus to its 1.4 billion population.

In February, China's top leaders declared a "huge victory" over COVID, claiming the world's lowest death rate, though experts questioned the data.

Meanwhile the United States in December expanded its voluntary genome sequencing program at airports, adding Seattle and Los Angeles.

The source told Reuters the CDC would maintain the program, known as the Traveler-Based Genomic Surveillance Program (TGS), which asks travelers to volunteer to help with the early detection of new variants.

TGS will continue to monitor flights from China and regional transportation hubs, as well as flights from more than 30 other countries, the sources said.

With the announcement of the planned withdrawal, Washington will join India, Canada, Italy, Japan, South Korea and other countries in the move, citing The National News.

Last month, South Korea said it would not require travelers from China to take a COVID-19 test on arrival from March, though pre-departure tests would remain a requirement.

China has been hit hard by a spike in COVID-19 cases after abruptly abandoning its zero-Covid policy in early December, spreading the virus to its 1.4 billion population.

President Joe Biden's administration continues to monitor cases in China and other countries, continuing to implement travel-based genomic surveillance programs.

The US is reportedly consulting with allies and partners to have lifted similar restrictions on incoming flights from China.

It is known that removing the testing requirement will remove one of the final hurdles facing the global aviation industry after Covid, especially for business passengers traveling between the world's two largest economies.