The Chinese government’s decision to conduct COVID-19 anal swab tests on foreigners is endangering the international community. Germany recently condemned the tests after German nationals complained about them.
“We have repeatedly raised that issue vis-à-vis the Chinese government, especially with regard to the medical tests and examinations that are taking place against the will of the persons concerned,” a source from the German Foreign Office told VICE.
Washington had raised the issue with Beijing after several American diplomats were forced to undergo the tests. Communist China dismissed the allegation and said that they have never asked U.S. diplomats stationed in China to take anal swab tests.
The Japanese government complained that the anal swab tests have caused “great psychological pain” to travelers going to China. Tokyo has asked Chinese authorities to stop conducting the tests. Kyodo News said that the test humiliates people and violates their human rights and dignity.
The South Korean foreign ministry informed citizens that visitors to communist China can now submit their stool samples rather than having Chinese officials “taking them directly.” The ministry’s statements come after China announced that foreign travelers refusing to take an anal swab test should submit stool samples to test for COVID-19.
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Communist China has vehemently defended the anal swab test, calling it a critical part of controlling the pandemic. In an interview with the state-backed Global Times, Lu Hongzhou, an expert from China’s Fudan University Public Health Clinical Center, said that nasal and throat swab tests might produce false-negative results.
Anal swab tests can instantly identify whether a person carries the COVID-19 virus
Some studies have shown that traces of the virus might remain in fecal matter longer than the respiratory tract, strengthening the case for anal swab tests.
However, there has been strong opposition to the test in the Chinese medical community. Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, said that an individual contracts the virus through the respiratory system rather than his digestive system. Consequently, nasal and throat tests should sufficiently identify infections.
“There have been cases concerning the coronavirus testing positive in a patient’s excrement, but no evidence has suggested it had been transmitted through one’s digestive system,” Yang told Global Times.
In February, a video showing people walking like penguins in a swaying motion spread online in the country claiming that these individuals had undergone anal swab tests. Chinese authorities called the video fake and assured citizens that no one walks like that after they take the test.
Visitor requirements
Some reports suggest that communist China might fully open borders to foreigners by October. Chinese ex-pats will likely be able to visit Tibet starting April. Foreign travelers looking to visit China will need to submit a 14-day record of their travel plans and accommodation registration forms. Nucleic acid test results showing that you are free from coronavirus infection will have to be provided.
If your visit is official, a certificate of employment will be needed. Face masks and green health codes of your location and destination are required. Some cities might issue entry and exit certificates. Be sure to collect them to ensure you can travel freely.
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