CDC lifts testing requirement for travelers to the U.S. from China - USA TODAY

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A requirement that travelers to the U.S. from China present a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flights expired last Friday after more than two months as cases in China have fallen.

Following other countries like Italy and Japan, the restrictions were put in place on Dec. 28 and took effect Jan. 5 amid a surge in infections in China after the nation sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as U.S. health officials expressed concerns that their Chinese counterparts were not being truthful to the world about the true number of infections and deaths.

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The requirement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expired for flights leaving after 3 p.m. EST last Friday.

The U.S. decision to lift restrictions comes at a moment when U.S.-China relations are strained. Biden ordered a Chinese spy balloon shot down last month after it traversed the continental United States. The Biden administration has also publicized U.S. intelligence findings that raise concern Beijing is considering  providing Russia weaponry for its war on Ukraine.

Why was the order lifted?

In a news release Friday, the CDC said epidemiologic data showed there is no longer a surge in COVID-19 cases in China, and the agency determined that requirements are no longer necessary. The agency also identified no variants of concern from China.

According to the World Health Organization, daily cases peaked at 7 million during the surge in late December and leveled off to 20,000 or so cases a day between Jan. 24 and Feb. 21.

What happens now that there are no requirements? 

Passengers flying to the U.S. from China, Hong Kong, Macau and designated airports will no longer be required to show a negative COVID-19 test no more than two days before their flight or proof of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding. 

The designated airports include Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Canada; and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in Canada.

The testing applied to anyone 2 years and older, including U.S. citizens.

There also were health screening procedures at airports where travelers have their temperature taken.

What is the current travel advisory for Americans in China?

The same day the requirements were lifted by the CDC, the State Department reissued China a Level 3 Travel Advisory with updates to COVID-19 information. The advisory urges Americans to "reconsider travel," citing health risks, wrongful detention and other potential risks. 

Regarding COVID-19, the agency said it doesn't "provide or coordinate direct medical care to private U.S. citizens abroad. U.S. citizens overseas may receive PRC-approved COVID vaccine doses where they are eligible."

The Chinese government has not authorized the use of commonly available COVID-19 vaccines in mainland China, such as Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech. There are 13 Chinese-made vaccines, but not all have been approved by the FDA. 

Travelers in mainland China may can face additional testing requirements to attend events or enter facilities. People may also run into law enforcement "arbitrarily enforcing local laws," including exit bans, and they become aware of this only when trying to leave China.  

On the CDC website, there are no travel health notices for China. The agency recommends people be up to date with all COVID-19 vaccines, among others, before traveling to China and taking the same health and safety precautions as they would in other places.

Contributing: Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press

Kathleen Wong is a travel reporter based in Hawaii. You can reach her at kwong@usatoday.com