The protective measures adopted by several countries in the face of the explosion of Covid-19 cases in China are “understandable” given the lack of information provided by Beijing, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday.
“In the absence of full information from China, it is understandable that countries are taking measures that they believe will protect their people,” WHO official Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recalled that he had already warned that “more detailed information” is needed to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment of the Covid-19 situation in China.
“We remain concerned about the evolution of the situation and continue to encourage China to screen for the Covid-19 virus and vaccinate those most at risk. We continue to offer our support for clinical care and the protection of their health system, ”he stressed. still.
On the other hand, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considered the mandatory screening of Covid-19 in the European Union (EU) unjustified for travelers from China, where infections have increased significantly, maintaining that European countries “have relatively high levels of immunization and vaccination” and that variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus “circulating in China are already circulating in the EU”.
The European Union, for its part, refrained today from following, for the moment, Italy’s decision to require Covid-19 tests for travelers from China arriving at its airports, but promised to remain vigilant and ready to act in set.
Italy has made Covid-19 tests mandatory for anyone arriving from China at its airports. More than 50% of the people tested upon arrival at Milan’s Malpensa airport were infected.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has increased pressure on the European Union to adhere to her government’s approach, arguing that screening all passengers from China “is only effective if [tal] is done at the European level,” noting that many arrive on connecting flights via other European countries.
After strict travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic, the European Union this fall returned to a pre-pandemic system of free travel, but member countries agreed that an “emergency brake” could be activated if necessary. in a short period of time. It’s time to face an unexpected challenge.
Portugal does not plan to strengthen control and mitigation measures for the pandemic.
However, in response to Lusa on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health assured that the Portuguese authorities are monitoring the epidemiological situation in China “together with European partners and international organizations”.
The United States on that day announced new Covid-19 testing requirements for all travelers from China, joining some Asian countries that have imposed restrictions due to rising infections.
Japan will require a negative Covid-19 test for travelers from China, Malaysia has announced new screening and surveillance measures. India, South Korea and Taiwan also require tests for visitors from China.
Covid-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, detected three years ago in China and which has spread rapidly throughout the world, having assumed various variants and subvariants, some more contagious than others.
The disease is an international public health emergency since January 30, 2020 and a pandemic since March 11, 2020.
Source: TSF
