In reaction to China’s relaxation of Covid regulations amid a predicted rise in infections but reduced domestic testing, numerous governments have proposed new safeguards. Beijing abandoned its policy of quarantine upon arrival on Monday, prompting many to make their first international travel plans in years.
On Thursday morning, the U.K. and France stated they did not currently have any plans to reinstate required Covid-19 testing or other entry-level restrictions for visitors.
Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s initial outbreak in early 2020, was the first nation in the area to declare on Wednesday that all visitors arriving from China would be subject to mandatory antigen swabs.
52% of passengers on one aircraft from China to Milan’s Malpensa Airport on December 26 tested positive for Covid, according to La Repubblica
To try to coordinate a response, European Union health authorities were in a tense meeting on Thursday.
According to a report, Brigitte Autran, chair of the French health risk assessment group COVARS, stated on France’s Radio Classique, “From a scientific point of view, there is no reason at this stage to bring back controls at the frontiers.”
Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, said during a news conference that since many passengers enter Italy through other Schengen nations, her country’s testing measures would be ineffectual if they are not adopted throughout the EU.
According to a Google translation, Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini stated on Twitter that “Italy cannot be the only country to carry out anti-Covid checks at airports for persons arriving from China.”
According to reports, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases of Italy requested more testing for travelers arriving from China. The institute stated, in accordance with a translation provided by the Ansa news agency, “It would be better if the coordination of surveillance should take place at European level.”
All arrivals from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, according to the U.S., are required to present results of a Covid test that was completed within two days of departure.
Passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand will need to have a negative test, and those who do will be quarantined if they exhibit symptoms of Covid or have a positive test result.
Upon arrival, travelers from the Chinese mainland will undergo testing in Japan and Taiwan.
The U.K. government stated that there are no plans to reinstate Covid tests or add new entry criteria; however, it did state that it would keep an eye on the condition until Thursday.
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