The European Union encouraged its member nations to require a negative Covid-19 test for travelers boarding flights from China to the region.
Three major European tourist destinations, France, Italy and Spain, as well as Britain, have introduced testing and other requirements for travelers from China.
The tourist and aviation industries had hoped the E.U. move would bring back a tough measure for travelers that they had not seen in a long time.
The European Union advises countries to require a negative Covid-19 test for all passengers departing from China to member states.
A committee made up of health officials from 27 countries made the statement. Travelers from China are required to have a negative test result within two days of departure.
The E.U. panel will meet again later this month to assess the situation.
The member states agreed on a coordinated precautionary approach in the light of Covid-19 developments in China, especially considering the need for sufficient, reliable data and the easing of travel restrictions by China.
In Europe, the worst of the Pandemic has largely been brought under control after more than two million deaths, economic havoc and a huge vaccine campaign.
E.U.-China relations are already tense because of China's support of Russia.
The Beijing government has denounced the new Covid testing requirements imposed by other countries on travelers arriving from China.
Travel restrictions are not an effective way to control the spread of the coronaviruses, according to many experts. The introduction of strict requirements for travelers can be difficult to implement.
The W.H.O.'s chief said last week that the measures were understandable in view of China's lack of transparency over its Covid data.
The lack of comprehensive information from China makes it understandable that countries around the world are acting in ways that they believe may protect their populations.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said on Tuesday that infections in China had fallen since an all-time high in December.
There is a lack of reliable data on Covid-19 cases, hospital admissions, deaths and intensive care unit capacity in China.
Chinese tourists prefer the European Union to other destinations. When the government in Beijing announced it would ease travel restrictions, member countries breathed a sigh of relief.
Quarantine rules for visitors from abroad will be dropped for the first time in over a year on Sunday.
Chinese citizens can apply for a passport for travel abroad. On December 27th, when the government announced changes to its border restrictions, outbound flight bookings increased by over 300 percent.
After more than two years of strict Chinese corona measures, the last major hurdle to unrestricted freedom of travel has fallen.
The return of the most important Asian source market for European and Austrian tourism is good news.
The European Union has differing views on how to deal with the increasing number of cases in China. The biggest concern for the European authorities has been the possibility of a new variant in China, but experts warn that forcing visitors from China to test would not stop the circulation of such a variant around the world.
Health officials in Italy said that no new coronaviruses have been registered so far.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control stated on Tuesday that there had been no new variant recorded in China so far.
Random airport testing on travelers arriving from China and to check the waste from planes landing in Europe from China were requested by the E.U.
She reported from Hong Kong.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
