COVID-19 in China, Hong Kong, and Macau
Beginning January 5, at 12:01AM ET, there are new requirements for air passengers 2 years of age and older traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 10 days. These passengers, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 2 days before their flight departs. Those who had COVID-19 in the 90 days before their travel to the United States can instead show documentation of recovery from COVID-19.
Key points
- Reconsider travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and limited health care resources.
- If you do travel, take the steps below to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
If You Travel
- Get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel. Even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, you may still be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19.
- Consider getting tested before travel to China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
- Prepare a travel health kit with items you may need, especially those items that may be difficult to find at your destination, such as fever reducing medicines.
- Consider getting travel insurance and travel health insurance in case you need health care or your trip is interrupted.
- Wear a mask when indoors in public, and follow CDC’s recommendations for wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings.
- Follow all entry and exit requirements and recommendations at your destination.
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after you get back to the United States. Some U.S. airports offer a free take-home COVID-19 test when you participate in a program tracking new variants.
Current Situation
In December 2022, China ended its Zero-COVID policy. Since then, COVID-19 cases have increased rapidly resulting in the highest number of cases per day in China since the start of the pandemic. There are also indications that severe cases and hospitalizations are increasing. There are reports that the healthcare system is overwhelmed and access to health care and medicine is limited. As cases increase, chances of new variants of concern emerging increase as well.
More Information
- General Information about International Travel to and from the United States
- COVID-19
- U.S. Department of State China Travel Advisory