In order to ensure the health and safety of international travel, from 17 January 2023 (UK time), airlines flying to China will be responsible for checking the negative PCR test certificates (hard copy) of passengers within 48 hours before boarding and passengers are kindly asked to cooperate.
"China's Covid situation is predictable and under control," she added.Ĭorrection: This story has been updated to reflect that European officials on Wednesday recommended pre-flight testing of travelers from China.According to the requirements of “the interim measures for the exchange of Chinese and foreign personnel following the decision to manage COVID-19 with measures against Class-B infectious diseases” issued by the Chinese government on 27 December 2022, passengers traveling to China must undergo ONE nucleic acid test for COVID-19 within 48 hours before boarding, and those with a negative result can travel to China. The commission spokesperson told CNBC that the EU had reached out via its delegation in Beijing "to offer solidarity and support, including through sharing of public health expertise and variant-adapted EU vaccine donations."Īsked on Tuesday about the offer from Europe to provide Covid vaccines, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning replied, "China has established the world's largest production lines of Covid vaccines with an annual production capacity of over 7 billion doses and an annual output of over 5.5 billion doses, which meet the needs of ensuring that all people eligible for vaccination have access to Covid vaccines." The country has nine vaccines developed domestically, according to Reuters, but these have not been updated for the omicron variant, considered highly infectious.Įuropean authorities offered to send vaccines to China, but Beijing has not yet responded, according to a spokesperson for the European Commission. However, China has experienced a rise in Covid infections since November and there are concerns about the level of immunization among its population. They also said travelers arriving in China would no longer have to quarantine. In late December, Chinese authorities said they would restart issuing visas for residents to travel abroad. The latest move by the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, aims to coordinate rules across the region. France and Spain had also taken similar stances. Rome, one of the hardest hit in Europe by the pandemic, ordered compulsory testing last week.
Italy was among the first EU nations to take action in the aftermath of Beijing abruptly abandoning strict measures that were in place for much of the pandemic. The U.S., India, U.K., Japan and Australia have all announced tougher measures on travelers from China in a bid to prevent a surge in Covid cases. In December, it also said it would restart issuing visas for residents to travel abroad. Beijing targets to scrap the confinement requirement this coming weekend, but will continue to demand proof of negative Covid-19 tests from visitors from abroad. Officials in China have criticized recently imposed testing requirements on travelers from the country and threatened to take reciprocal countermeasures. China currently requires foreign visitors to produce a negative Covid-19 test before entering the country, as well as to quarantine for eight days following their arrival. Germany confirmed Thursday that it will ask for at least a rapid coronavirus test from visitors from China, according to Reuters.
Several EU nations have already stepped up their protection measures against potential new cases from China. It is up to the various capitals to decide whether they will follow EU recommendations. Health policy comes under the jurisdiction of individual governments. "The Member States agreed on a coordinated precautionary approach in the light of Covid-19 developments in China," said a statement issued Wednesday, following a meeting of EU officials that lasted several hours. Personal Loans for 670 Credit Score or Lower Personal Loans for 580 Credit Score or Lower Best Debt Consolidation Loans for Bad Credit
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