Random passengers on direct flights from mainland China into the UK are to be examined for COVID-19 in a brand new UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance programme which begins immediately.
Concern is rising that COVID is overwhelming the well being system in China because the virus continues to unfold via a big inhabitants which possesses little immunity due to the authorities’s now scrapped Zero-COVID coverage, which relied on isolation reasonably than inoculation.
There are additionally fears about how correct the nation’s information is over the outbreak.
It is anticipated the at the moment low numbers of travellers from China will enhance from immediately, as quarantine necessities on return to China are eliminated, so the brand new surveillance will start.
Since 5 January, individuals travelling from mainland China have been requested to take a pre-departure COVID-19 check.
But the UKHSA mentioned its new programme would additionally see “a sample of passengers arriving in England from mainland China tested for COVID-19 at the point of their arrival”.
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The company mentioned passengers at Heathrow could be invited to participate within the examine and all constructive samples despatched for sequencing.
“This will further enhance the UK’s ability to identify any new variants which may be circulating in China that could evade the immune response of those already vaccinated, or which have the potential to successfully outcompete other variants and spread internationally,” an company assertion defined.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay mentioned as China reopened its borders, it was “right for us to take a balanced and precautionary approach by announcing these temporary measures while we assess the data”.
He added: “This allows our world leading scientists at the UK Health Security Agency to gain rapid insight into potential new variants circulating in China.”
The finish to Zero-COVID guidelines at first of December has unleashed the virus on China, which is house to 1.4 billion individuals.
The inhabitants has little immunity after being shielded because the coronavirus emerged within the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan in late 2019.
Many funeral houses and hospitals say they’re overwhelmed, whereas worldwide well being consultants have warned of at the very least a million deaths in China this 12 months.
Source: information.sky.com”