COVID-19 tests needed to enter Canada for travellers from China

The Canadian government is launching requirements on Thursday for all airline passengers leaving China, Hong Kong, and Macau to provide a negative COVID-19 test before they can enter Canada.

The negative test needs to have been administered within 48 hours of the passenger’s departure.

Travellers will have to provide evidence of a negative test when they enter Canada, part of a decision announced in Ottawa last week as case counts soar in China.

READ MORE: WHO says China COVID-19 travel restrictions are reasonable

A University of B.C. student, Jiayuan Jin, will be one of the first arrivals under the new testing rules when her flight lands on Saturday, and says she supports the new strategy.

Jin says testing booths are numerous in China and results are available within 10 hours.

Other countries, including the United States and several European nations, imposed similar rules despite protests by China.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticized the change in requirements, saying some countries were attempting to manipulate COVID measures for political purposes and Beijing will take countermeasures.

READ MORE: Travellers entering Canada from China must show negative COVID-19 test