The European Union (EU) on Wednesday “strongly” encouraged member states to impose Covid-19 tests before the departure of passengers from China, a measure that should be poorly received by Beijing and that has already been criticized by aviation. .
After a week of negotiations between EU health experts, an agreement was not reached for the 27 Member States to adopt restrictions, but other recommendations were decided that each country will apply: the mandatory use of a mask for travelers coming from China, random testing on arrival or even control of wastewater from airports and airplanes coming from China.
Although the European body said, in a statement, that member states agreed to a “coordinated preventive approach”, part of the position did not reach full agreement.
In the decision on testing travelers from China, it is stated that “Member States are strongly recommended to introduce, for all passengers leaving China for Member States, the requirement of a negative Covid test -19 made 48 hours before departure”.
In the statement released at the end of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) meeting, member states also pledged to “issue recommendations to international travelers arriving and departing from or to China ” and aircraft and airport personnel, with respect to personal hygiene and sanitary measures.
This group also promised to continue monitoring the epidemiological situation in the EU and China, to ensure European coordination of the measures deemed necessary.
The Chinese government and European health experts have argued that there is no urgent need for blanket travel restrictions, as variants of Covid-19 emerging from China are already prevalent in Europe.
China vehemently rejected the imposition of restrictions such as those adopted by Italy, France or Spain within the EU, warning of “countermeasures” if such policies were imposed across the bloc.
On Wednesday, the International Air Transport Association, which represents some 300 airlines worldwide, joined the protests.
“It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years,” said the association’s CEO, Willie Walsh.
Since the increase in Covid-19 cases in China was made public, several members of the community bloc have once again imposed controls on travelers from China, although others, such as Belgium, have chosen not to require travelers from that country carrying out a test. .
In Portugal, the Minister of Health assured this Tuesday that “everything will be prepared” so that, if necessary, measures to control covid-19 are adopted in Portugal, specifically at airports for travelers from China.
The number of Covid-19 cases reached a record level in mainland China, peaking on December 2, 2022, and in the last three weeks the incidence has decreased, probably also due to fewer tests carried out, resulting in fewer infections are being detected, according to the ECDC.
After strict travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic, the EU returned this autumn to a pre-pandemic free travel system, but member countries agreed that an “emergency brake” could be put on if necessary. a short period of time. face an unexpected challenge.
Source: TSF
