Most EU countries back pre-departure COVID testing for Chinese flights as officials meet in Brussels

Record ID: 1705162

  • Title: Most EU countries back pre-departure COVID testing for Chinese flights as officials meet in Brussels
  • Date: 4th January 2023
  • Summary: MILAN, ITALY (RECENT - DECEMBER 29, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POSTERS INSIDE MALPENSA AIRPORT READING IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ''RAPID ANTIGEN DETECTION TEST'' VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS QUEUING FOR TEST PASSENGER ENTERING TESTING SITE TESTING SITE
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2023 12:46
  • Keywords: COVID-19 China European Union coronavirus
  • Location: Rome and Milan, ITALY / Brussels, BELGIUM
  • City: Rome and Milan, ITALY / Brussels, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: European Union,Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003030404012023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EU health officials were to meet in Brussels on Wednesday (January 4) to discuss travel restrictions in response to COVID infection rates in China, with most countries backing pre-departure testing for incoming passengers.
    The European Commission prepared a draft proposal for the talks, to begin 1630 local time (1530GMT).
    As well as targeted testing, it also included a recommendation for mask wearing on flights from China, wastewater monitoring for aircraft arriving from China, genomic surveillance at airports and increased monitoring and sequencing, EU spokesperson Tim McPhie told a news briefing.
    The bloc would also recommend increased EU vigilance on testing and vaccination.
    Italy has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers from China.
    Milan's main airport, Malpensa, has already started testing passengers arriving from Beijing and Shanghai.
    The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said last week it did not currently recommend measures on travellers from China.
    It said the variants circulating in China were already in the European Union, that EU citizens had relatively high vaccination levels and the potential for imported infections was low compared to daily infections in the EU, with healthcare systems currently coping.
    (Production: Bart Biesemans, Johnny Cotton)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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