Funviralpark 
Travelers exit the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic inspection area at Ben Gurion International Airport imposing new restrictions on November 28, 2021 near Tel Aviv, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
i24 news – Israel announced on Friday it would impose travel restrictions on visitors arriving from China, where a surge in coronavirus cases hit the East Asian country following the easing of its zero-coronavirus policy.
Foreign airlines require foreigners traveling to Israel from China to be tested for the virus. Also, voluntary sampling stations will be set up for Israelis and foreigners, Health Minister Aryeh Deri said.
In doing so, Israel joins other countries adding travel rules for flights from China amid concerns over the spread of the new strain of the disease. Spain on Friday became the second European country to impose travel restrictions on arrivals from China. To enter the country, passengers must have a negative COVID-19 test result or be fully vaccinated. Spain follows Italy’s announcement earlier this week that it will carry out mandatory testing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said so far no new subspecies had been detected in passengers arriving from China.
The European Union’s health agency has called the introduction of mandatory coronavirus screening for travelers from China “unjustified”.
Related news
Outside of Europe and Israel, countries that have decided to introduce new rules for arrivals from China include the United States, Japan, India, Taiwan and South Korea.
China saw a spike in new cases of COVID-19 in December, with nearly 250 million people in China infected with COVID-19 in the first 20 days of the month. Many in China are rushing to plan international travel as Beijing announces it will end mandatory Covid quarantine for international arrivals from Jan. 8 as part of deregulation after nearly three years. .
