COVID-19: Why Nigeria should impose testing for visitors from China, by experts

Ashiru, Tomori, Ojinmah seek immediate passenger restriction

Despite recent lifting of strict protocols for inbound passengers to Nigeria, there are fresh calls for restrictions on passengers from China, following resurgence of COVID-19 in that country.

Leading the call was the President, Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria (AMSN), Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, who said: “Nigeria cannot afford the spill over from the current increase in COVID-19 from the country. Nigeria should reinstate all control measures towards incoming flights from the eastern route. Travellers from China must show a recent negative COVID-19 test, 48 hours before landing.”
The United States (US), yesterday, became the latest country to impose COVID-19 testing on visitors from China, after Beijing announced it would reopen borders next week.

Italy, Japan, Taiwan and India also announced mandatory tests, but Australia and United Kingdom (U.K.) said there were no new rules for travellers from China.

After three years of being closed to the world, China will let people travel more freely from January 8.
But the country’s ongoing COVID-19 surge has stirred concerns. China is reporting about 5,000 cases a day, but analysts say such numbers are vastly undercounted – and the daily caseload may be closer to a million. Hospitals are overwhelmed and residents are struggling to find basic medicines, according to reports.

A virologist and Chairman, Ministerial Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, told The Guardian: “The changing dynamics in China call for immediate and targeted action on our side, to protect our people and limit the possible importation of new COVID-19 cases to Nigeria.
“We must ensure that inbound Nigerian and Chinese passengers, especially businessmen and traders, as well as officials coming from China directly or through known transit stop overs, are thoroughly screened on arrival.
“This should start with on-the-spot Covid rapid diagnostic test; quarantine for all positives and monitoring of all negatives for a specified period; continued Covid vaccination for the unvaccinated and those yet to get boosters.”

Tomori, who, last month, had called for the lifting of COVID-19 protocols, said: “Remember 2019, when it all started from China. The situation may not be as bad; now that millions of people are either vaccinated against or recovered from Covid.
“In 2020, COVID-19 ravaged a Covid virgin population. Now, parts of the world are already pregnant with or delivered of Covid. But not being sure of the new China variant, there is still possibility for another widespread outbreak in different parts of the world.”

On his part, President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Uche Ojinmah, said: “I support measured restrictions focusing on people coming into Nigeria from Asia and China, especially.
“We are humans and are susceptible to infections and diseases, particularly not knowing how virulent the new strains are. We all need to be on guard. Let’s continue to practice infection control measures.
“Let the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other infection control agencies be on guard. We can’t afford to fail again.”

On Wednesday, the U.S. said a lack of “adequate and transparent” COVID-19 data in China had contributed to the decision to require Covid tests from January 5, 2023 for travellers entering the country from China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said this was needed “to help slow the spread of the virus, as we work to identify… any potential new variants that may emerge”.

But Beijing’s foreign ministry on Wednesday said coronavirus rules should only be established on a “scientific” basis and accused Western countries and media of “hyping up” the situation.

The international community’s reaction has varied, with the U.K. and Australia saying they were monitoring China’s COVID-19 situation but were not planning on announcing new testing requirements.

Others have moved swiftly to announce restrictions:
In Japan, from Friday, travellers from China will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival. Those who test positive will have to quarantine for up to seven days. The number of flights to and from China will also be restricted

In India, people travelling from China and four other Asian countries must produce a negative COVID-19 test before arriving. Positive passengers will also be put in quarantine

Taiwan says people arriving on flights from China, as well as by boat at two islands, will have to take COVID-19 tests on arrival from January 1 to January 31. Those who test positive will be able to isolate at home.

Meanwhile Malaysia has put additional tracking and surveillance measures in place

The European Commission said its health security committee would convene on Thursday to discuss “possible measures for a coordinated EU approach” to China’s COVID-19 surge.

But Italy, an EU member state and an epicentre of the virus in late 2019 and 2020, said it was moving first to “ensure the surveillance and identification” of any new variants of the virus.

China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that “currently, the development of China’s epidemic situation is overall predictable and under control”.

However, the true toll of daily cases and deaths in China is unknown, as officials have stopped requiring cases to be reported, and changed classifications for COVID-19 deaths. On Sunday, officials said they would also stop releasing daily case counts.