COVID-19 testing for folks arriving from China


A pattern of passengers travelling from China into London’s Heathrow Airport will probably be invited to take a PCR check for COVID-19 on arrival. These exams will assist us to raised perceive any variants which may be current in any optimistic instances.

COVID-19 virus

Why are we solely testing arrivals from China?

China is at present experiencing its largest and most severe COVID-19 wave for the reason that begin of the pandemic. This coincides with China easing a few of the border measures it had put in place in the course of the pandemic, which had included limits on the numbers of passengers permitted on worldwide flights.

There are far fewer publicly obtainable COVID-19 genomes shared from China in comparison with the UK. The chance to hold out genomic testing on samples supplied by a few of the incoming travellers is due to this fact essential, as it should assist us to raised perceive what COVID-19 variants are circulating in people arriving to the UK from China.

Why are we testing a pattern of individuals?

The exams being supplied on arrival are for surveillance functions solely and are meant to assist us construct a extra full image of the COVID-19 scenario worldwide. We solely want to check a pattern of travellers (we’re inviting 20% of arrivals to participate) to achieve a consultant image that’s helpful for this goal.

Whereas the arrival exams won’t have an effect on particular person passengers’ onward journeys, anybody travelling to England from mainland China from 5th January 2023 may even be required to take a COVID-19 test earlier than they depart and should present proof of a unfavourable outcome earlier than being permitted to board a flight.

Ought to we be frightened about new variants?

UKHSA already has a number of programs in place to detect and monitor the unfold and prevalence of COVID-19 variants at residence, and our information is shared rapidly to assist assist well being safety efforts worldwide.

There may be nothing within the publicly available data to recommend that there are any new variants at present circulating in China, however the measures we’re setting up at Heathrow will additional improve our surveillance capabilities and assist us to identify variants of concern rapidly if any do come up.

defend your self and others

Vaccination continues to be one of the best ways to guard your self in opposition to turning into severely unwell with COVID-19, so it’s as essential as ever to take up any doses whenever you’re eligible. Should you’ve been supplied a booster this winter and haven’t but come ahead, there may be nonetheless time to book an appointment.

As we suggested final April as a part of Dwelling with COVID, it is best to attempt to keep residence when you may have signs of respiratory infections together with flu and COVID-19 and in case you do need to exit, put on a face masking. There was no change on this recommendation which stays in place as a wise precautionary measure when you’re unwell.

You too can assist to guard your self and others by masking your nostril and mouth whenever you cough and sneeze, washing your arms continuously and cleansing surfaces comparable to door handles and light-weight switches.

It’s best to notably keep away from assembly folks at greater threat of turning into significantly unwell from COVID-19, particularly these with a weakened immune system. Full steerage on residing safely with respiratory infections will be discovered here.

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