screening of Chinese travelers deemed “unjustified” by the EU
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The reopening of borders in China, in the midst of the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, is causing concern for several states, including the United States, which will require negative tests for Chinese travelers upon their arrival in the country. For its part, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) deemed this measure “unjustified” in the European Union.
The introduction of compulsory screening for Covid-19 within the European Union for travelers arriving from China – which is experiencing an explosion in cases – is “unjustified”, revealed Thursday, December 29 the European Center for Prevention and disease control (ECDC).
EU countries “have relatively high levels of immunization and vaccination” and “variants circulating in China are already circulating in the EU,” ECDC said in a statement, explaining that such a measure would not is not needed at the level of the European Union as a whole.
>> Faced with the outbreak of Covid-19 in China, the fear of repercussions in Europe
Health systems “capable of managing” the disease
For the European agency, “the potential infections” that can be imported are “rather low” compared to the number of circulating infections already on a daily basis. Health systems “are now able to manage” the disease, she added.
The European Commission convened a meeting on Thursday to “discuss (…) possible measures for a coordinated approach” by EU states to the explosion of Covid cases in China. Several countries including Italy or Japan, as well as the United States, have already decided to impose compulsory tests on all travelers coming from China.
The sudden end this month of China’s “zero Covid” policy, which should encourage a resumption of overseas travel by Chinese people, came as the country faces the largest wave of infections in the world, amplified by the appearance of new variants.
With AFP
Europe 1
