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Explainer | Pandemic travel: tests for Covid-19, which ones China recognises, and are anal swabs necessary?
- Potential travellers to the mainland must apply for a health code but the requirements depend on where you’re coming from
- After arriving in China, expect multiple swabs for RT-PCR tests at the airport, during quarantine and in any additional health monitoring period
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In this series, we answer frequently asked questions about China’s strict zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19 including current entry restrictions, the length of quarantine and which tests travellers have to take. Have a question you want us to tackle? Drop us an email at [email protected].
As the Covid-19 pandemic rolls on to its third year, regular tests for the coronavirus are part of many people’s daily lives.
People travelling to China, which has a strict zero-tolerance approach to the virus, must be tested before boarding a flight, on arrival and multiple times during quarantine.
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With various tests now being used by authorities for different purposes, you may be forgiven for not being able to distinguish between them. Here’s a guide.
What types of Covid-19 tests are there?
There are two main types of tests: diagnostic tests to detect whether you are currently infected by the virus, and antibody tests to detect whether your immune system has produced antibodies from either a previous infection or vaccination for the virus.
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Diagnostic tests usually take samples from nose or throat swabs. These are the most common:
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