European countries are taking a look at recent travel requirements from China after Beijing lifted Covid restrictions.
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European nations on Wednesday advisable recent restrictions on travelers from China amid concerns about a rise in Covid-19 cases.
Passengers departing from China will likely have to present a negative Covid test before leaving the country in the event that they are going to certainly one of the 27 EU countries. They can even likely be asked to wear face masks on flights and potentially undergo random testing upon arrival.
“Member states have agreed on a coordinated preventive approach in light of the event of Covid-19 in China,” reads a statement issued on Wednesday after a meeting of EU officials lasting several hours.
Health policy falls under the jurisdiction of individual governments. It’s up to different capitals to follow the EU recommendations. Several EU countries have already stepped up protection measures against potential recent cases from China.
Officials in China have criticized recently imposed testing requirements on travelers from the country and threatened reciprocal countermeasures. China currently requires foreign visitors to present a negative Covid-19 test before entering the country, and to self-quarantine for eight days upon arrival. Beijing is aiming to lift the isolation requirement this coming weekend, but will still demand proof of a negative Covid-19 test from overseas visitors. In December, he also announced the resumption of issuing visas for residents to travel abroad.
The US, India, UK, Japan and Australia have announced stricter measures against travelers from China to prevent a rise in Covid-19 cases.
Italy was certainly one of the primary EU countries to act within the wake of Beijing’s abrupt abandonment of the strict measures that had been in place for much of the pandemic.
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Rome, certainly one of the countries most affected by the pandemic in Europe, ordered mandatory testing last week. France and Spain also took a similar position.
The latest move by the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, goals to coordinate laws across the region.
In late December, Chinese authorities announced that they might resume issuing visas to residents to travel abroad. Additionally they said that travelers arriving in China will not need to be quarantined.
Nonetheless, China has experienced a rise in Covid infections since November and there are concerns about vaccination levels amongst its population. According to Reuters, the country has nine domestically developed vaccines, but they’ve not been updated for the omicron variant, believed to be highly infectious.
According to a spokesperson for the European Commission, European authorities have offered to send the vaccines to China, but Beijing has yet to respond.
A Commission spokesperson told CNBC that the EU reached out through its delegation in Beijing “to offer solidarity and support, including by sharing public health expertise and donating EU vaccines tailored to variants.”
Asked on Tuesday about a proposal from Europe to supply Covid vaccines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning replied: “China has created the world’s largest Covid vaccine production lines with an annual production capability of greater than 7 billion doses and an annual output of greater than 5.5 billion doses that meet the needs of be certain that all individuals eligible for vaccination have access to Covid vaccines.
“The Covid situation in China is predictable and under control,” she added.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that European officials on Wednesday advisable that Chinese travelers be tested before flying.