New COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Individuals Traveling to China

Beginning November 6, 2020, Chinese authorities heightened screening requirements for passengers looking to enter China from the United States. To review the new COVID 19 testing requirements and instructions, students and scholars can refer to this Chinese Embassy webpage and the Chinese Embassy’s Q&A webpage.  

Testing Options

Both international students and scholars may review Boulder County’s COVID-19 Testing Sites and Colorado.Gov’s COVID-19 Testing Sites to familiarize themselves with the various locations that provide testing in the surrounding area. However, please note that ISSS cannot guarantee if the facilities listed on these sites will be able to comply with the testing requirements or if they will be able to accept your insurance plan. Additionally, international students can review the CU COVID-19 Testing Website and contact the Public Health Clinic at Wardenburg to schedule an appointment by calling 303-492-5432. Calling to set up an appointment is recommended, as scheduling online will not allow a student to take the tests that meet the requirements. Please know that due to high volumes of testing and processing times, results may take longer than 48 hours to receive results (refer to the testing requirements to learn why this would be a problem).

CU faculty and staff can call Wardenburg Health Services for monitoring testing. The monitoring testing does not meet the testing requirements for travel to China. Additionally, this option is not available to visiting scholars who do not have a benefits-eligible position at CU.

Planning for Travel to China

If you plan to fly domestically in the United States, prior to flying abroad to China, you may want to see if any connecting airports can provide COVID-19 testing services. Students and scholars may find an easier time meeting the 48 hour testing guidelines in other U.S. locations. Travelers to China should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice and should be aware they may be subject to quarantine in China for an undetermined period of time.

Note: Travel guidelines to China may have changed from the time of this posting. Please view the Chinese Embassy Homepage for the most current testing requirements.