United States: The US is considering entry restrictions for travelers from China, as officials expressed concern about a lack of transparency about the country’s biggest COVID-19 outbreak.

“There are mounting concerns in the international community on the ongoing COVID-19 surges in China and the lack of transparent data, including viral genomic sequence data, being reported from the PRC,” US officials stated.

The lack of genomic data makes it “increasingly difficult for public health officials to ensure that they will be able to identify any potential new variants and take prompt measures to reduce the spread,” the US officials remarked.

“The comments come after Japan, India and Malaysia stepped up measures for arrivals from China, citing surging cases,” as per the statement.

Following the relaxation of China’s extremely strict “zero-COVID” policy, the number of infections has increased nationwide, prompting US officials to express concern about the possibility of the release of new varieties.

After Beijing announced that the COVID quarantine requirement will no longer be in effect starting on 8th January 2023, many people in China hastened to book their international travel.

According to the statement, Beijing authorities have acknowledged the outbreak is “impossible” to track and have done away with much-maligned case tallies, in addition to narrowing the criteria by which COVID fatalities are counted.

Even though only a few COVID deaths have been officially reported in recent weeks, hospitals and funeral homes in China are at capacity as the virus spreads mostly unchecked throughout the 1.4 billion population country.

The foreign ministry of Beijing observed that nations should enforce “appropriate and scientific” disease control that “should not affect normal personnel exchanges.”

COVID: China struggles to cop up with wide spread of virus after sudden loosening of COVID rules