With the resumption of international travel, nations are enforcing additional COVID-19 regulations on visitors from China.
France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden have so far tightened regulations on visitors from China in response to an increase in instances.
Although the EU has so far been unable to come to an agreement on a coordinated strategy to deal with the evolving COVID-19 scenario, the group has’strongly’ urged for a negative test requirement. Other strategies might include testing and immunisation requirements, cleanliness and health precautions for travellers, monitoring, surveillance, and sequencing for novel variations.
According to the health minister’s announcement last month, Italy was the first member of the EU to impose stricter regulations, requiring COVID-19 antigen swabs and viral sequencing for all travellers arriving from China.
Spain is the second European nation to implement COVID restrictions on Chinese visitors, who must now present proof of immunisation or a negative test result.
France has declared that, starting on January 5, all passengers arriving from China would need to pass a negative PCR or antigen test conducted fewer than 48 hours before boarding. Initially, France had claimed that further border checks weren’t necessary. Recently, Sweden also stated that all entering travellers from China will need to pass negative testing.
The Belgian mayor has also demanded that COVID screenings of visitors arriving from China be reinstated. As part of additional measures against the COVID virus, the government declared on Monday that it will test wastewater from flights coming from China for new COVID variations spread of the coronavirus.
The UK has changed its mind about its earlier claim that it has no intentions to resume COVID-19 testing for travellers arriving from China. The Department of Health said on Friday that as of January 5th, a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test will be necessary.
China has retaliated against the targeted immigration restrictions, claiming they are unfair and without any basis in science. China is “firmly opposed to such tactics,” according to Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, who also warned punishment.
