Half of passengers on China flight to Italy have COVID

More than half of passengers on a flight from China to Italy have tested positive for COVID-19 - as China prepares to open up its borders despite a huge surge in infections, Report informs referring to Sky News.

Two flights into Milan were among the first to see passengers subjected to new mandatory testing imposed on Chinese travelers.

Guido Bertolaso, Lombardy regional councilor for welfare, told a news conference: "On the first flight, out of 92 passengers 35 (38%) are positive. On the second, out of 120 passengers 62 (52%) are positive."

In what would be a haunting repeat of early 2020, there are concerns they could spread coronavirus internationally as infections surge in the country.

Japan, India and Taiwan are now requiring virus tests for travelers from the country.

The US will impose mandatory COVID-19 tests on travelers from China, health officials told reporters on Wednesday evening. They said that from 5 January all air passengers aged two and older will require a negative result from a test no more than two days before departure from China, Hong Kong or Macao.