BEIJING: Foreign visitors have been upset by China's anal swab tests for COVID-19, prompting complaints of inconvenience and even psychological trauma, and stoking debate over their necessity.
A few cities, such as the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and the port city of Qingdao require the checks, in addition to nasal or throat swab tests, for some international arrivals, state media say.
WHAT ARE ANAL SWABS?
The Chinese Center for Disease Control says the test is performed with a sterile cotton swab, which looks like a very long ear bud, that is inserted 3 cm to 5 cm (1.2 inches to 2 inches) into the anus before being gently rotated out.
WHY ANAL SWABS?
Such tests can ensure infections are spotted, since coronavirus traces can be detectable in the anus for longer than in the respiratory tract, some Chinese doctors told state media.
But a positive result does not necessarily mean the person tested can spread the virus, as inactive traces unable to replicate or infect others can also show positive, Jin Dongyan, a virology professor at the University of Hong Kong, told Reuters.
While the virus does shed for a longer time in the stool than in nasal samples, that has no clinical relevance as patients in that stage of recovery no longer pose infection risks, said an expert in Europe who spoke on condition of anonymity.
FOREIGNERS ONLY?
Early this week, Tokyo complained about the tests on some Japanese travellers to China, saying they had caused "great psychological pain".
South Korean visitors can now submit stool samples instead of "Chinese authorities taking them directly", Choi Young-Sam, a spokesman of the South Korean foreign ministry, said on Tuesday.
Last month, U.S. media outlet Vice cited a State Department official as saying U.S. diplomats received the tests. The Chinese foreign ministry rejected the report.
But anal swab tests are not exclusive to foreign visitors.
During China's last major round of infections in January, some cities performed them on unspecified segments of the local population.
ONLY IN CHINA?
Travellers flying into Shanghai must undertake a full battery of tests including anal swabs, if more than five people on their airplane test positive for the virus, state media reported, citing one of the local CDC staff.
Travellers from regions where the virus is rampant or those who test positive on arrival also need to undergo such tests, according to the staffer.
While anal swabs are not compulsory for all international arrivals in China, one staffer of Beijing's Daxing district epidemic control department told state-backed Global Times that international visitors to Beijing were subject to such testing.
"If people are not familiar with the procedure for taking an anal swab test, our employees will help explain how it will be done," she said.
Anal swab tests for the virus are not unique to China.
Galicia, in northwest Spain, has performed them on some hospitalised patients, a few newborns and those with psychiatric illnesses for whom it was impossible to administer nasal swabs, its health department told Reuters.
Reuters
Wed Mar 03 2021
![Factbox: China's controversial anal tests for coronavirus upset visitors Factbox: China's controversial anal tests for coronavirus upset visitors](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/81614765639_BEIJING.jpg)
A few cities, such as the capital, Beijing, Shanghai and the port city of Qingdao require the checks, in addition to nasal or throat swab tests, for some international arrivals. Filepic/REUTERS
AWANI Borneo [15/08/2024] – Jaga integrity | Persaingan sihat | SUKMA 2024
Tumpuan Awani Borneo 15 Ogos 2024 bersama Nickyson Nyambar;
1. Hajiji ingatkan pegawai daerah jaga integriti, mudahkan urusan rakyat
2. KPDN pelawa pasar raya besar buka cawangan di Sabah, Labuan
3. SUKMA 2024: Premier bakal umum insentif untuk atlet Sarawak berjaya raih pingat
1. Hajiji ingatkan pegawai daerah jaga integriti, mudahkan urusan rakyat
2. KPDN pelawa pasar raya besar buka cawangan di Sabah, Labuan
3. SUKMA 2024: Premier bakal umum insentif untuk atlet Sarawak berjaya raih pingat
[TERKINI] Belasungkawa: Jenazah Allahyarham Nidza Afham selamat dikebumikan
Ikuti siaran perjalanan terakhir jenazah Allahyarham Nidza Afham di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Felda Bukit Cherakah, Puncak Alam, Selangor.
SUKMA 2024: Kesemua venue bagi 488 acara sedia digunakan
Kerja penaiktarafan tiga lokasi iaitu padang memanah, gelanggang hoki serta trek bmx yang belum siap sepenuhnya tidak menjejaskan pelaksanaan acara sukan berkenaan kerana ia hanya melibatkan fasiliti tandas yang diganti menggunakan tandas mudah alih, selain landskap trek.
KPDN pelawa Lotus’s, pasar raya besar buka cawangan di Sabah, Labuan
Mengambil contoh harga ayam di Lotus’s Malaysia, Armizan berkata rangkaian pasar raya itu konsisten menawarkan harga berpatutan serendah RM6.99 sekilogram berbanding harga ayam yang tinggi di wilayah tersebut.
Hajiji ingatkan pegawai daerah jaga integriti, mudahkan urusan rakyat
Hajiji berkata beliau telah menerima banyak aduan daripada rakyat dan laporan tentang isu integriti serta ketelusan melibatkan Pegawai Daerah dan Penolong Pegawai Daerah, termasuk ada antara mereka melengah-lengahkan urusan yang mempunyai kepentingan untuk rakyat.
STB Sabah mahu kembalikan kegemilangan Sandakan
Lembaga Pelancongan Sabah (STB) mengambil tindakan segera dengan mengadakan sesi libat urus bersama wakil-wakil rakyat dan pemain industri pelancongan Sandakan nagi mengembalikan populariti daerah itu dalam kalangan pelancong.
Astro ketengah elemen 'Heart to Heart' untuk Malaysia
Kempen Inilah KITA yang dilancarkan Astro sejak minggu lalu meraikan semangat kebersamaan serta makna sebagai rakyat Malaysia di bawah cerminan negara yang berbilang kaum dan majmuk sama seperti yang ada di Sabah dan Sarawak. Kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan Astro Holdings Berhad, Euan Smith, kebersatuan itu diraikan menerusi bakat penceritaan kakitangan Astro yang dinamik dan menyentuh hati.
Bahasa etnik medium hebahan Bulan Kebangsaan di Sabah
Timbalan Pengarah Jabatan Penerangan (JaPen) Sabah Supian Musa berkata inisiatif itu bukan hanya bertujuan menyemarakkan sambutan, tetapi lebih utama mahu memastikan mesej disampaikan dalam bahasa mudah difahami supaya dapat dihayati semua lapisan masyarakat.
SUKMA 2024: Premier umum insentif untuk pemenang pingat Sarawak pada Jumaat
NIlai insentif yang menanti atlet Sarawak yang meraih pingat dalam temasya sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) ke-21 dijangka diumum Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg pada Jumaat.
![Hari Kebangsaan: Kapasiti tempat duduk di Dataran Putrajaya ditambah - Fahmi Hari Kebangsaan: Kapasiti tempat duduk di Dataran Putrajaya ditambah - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723720861_TBmerdeka.jpg)
Hari Kebangsaan: Kapasiti tempat duduk di Dataran Putrajaya ditambah - Fahmi
Kapasiti tempat duduk awam bertingkat di Dataran Putrajaya di sini akan ditambah.