Tokyo asks China to end COVID-19 anal swabs for Japanese
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
|
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan has asked China to avoid using anal swabs to test its citizens for coronavirus, saying the method prompted complaints of "psychological distress".
Tokyo's intervention comes after reports that US diplomatic personnel in China had complained of being subjected to the intrusive tests -- a claim Beijing denied.
China, which has largely brought the virus under control domestically, said last month that anal swabs can be more effective than normal throat and nose tests as the virus can linger longer in the digestive system.
But Japanese government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said late Monday that Tokyo had made a formal request through its embassy in Beijing that people arriving from the country be exempted.
"Our embassy requested Japanese citizens be excluded from anal PCR tests, as some Japanese expatriates... expressed the opinion that the tests produce significant psychological distress," Kato said.
"At this point we have not received a response that they change this... We will continue pressing the issue," he added, noting that there was no information that any other country was using the method.
Asked about the complaint, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Beijing's testing methods were "science-based" and "in accordance with the changes in the epidemic situation as well as relevant laws and regulations".
Last month, US media said State Department personnel in China had complained about the method, but Beijing rebuffed the reports, saying it had "never requested US diplomatic personnel in China to undergo anal swabs".
Officials in China have used anal swabs to test people it considers at high-risk of contracting COVID-19, including residents of neighbourhoods with confirmed cases as well as some international travellers.
But they have acknowledged it would be hard to use anal swabs as widely as the other methods, which have been used to test millions in mass campaigns, as the technique was "not convenient".
Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at https://bit.ly/epaper-login
ADVERTISEMENT
POST A COMMENT
HOUSE RULES
- We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
- Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
- We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
- Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
- Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
- If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
- Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy