In view of the massive wave of corona infections in China, more and more countries are ordering tests for people entering China from the People’s Republic, the federal government is waiting.
“The following still applies: We are monitoring the situation closely and coordinating with our international partners,” said the Federal Ministry of Health when asked. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) considered tightening the entry rules for Germany “not yet necessary” on Friday, but announced close “variant monitoring” at European airports. Bavaria called on the federal government to coordinate with the states in a timely manner about possible requirements for travelers from China.
The airport association ADV spoke out in favor of common rules in the EU. They plead for a coordinated approach within the EU member states and, if necessary, for mandatory tests at the departure airport, said ADV general manager Ralph Beisel.
EU countries should review measures
The European Union had not yet decided on a common line during consultations on the corona wave in China on Thursday. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides only called on the states to review their national measures to monitor the virus and, if necessary, to restart them. It is likely that further action within the EU will be discussed at a crisis meeting next week.
France, England, Italy, Spain, the USA, India and South Korea have already introduced or promised restrictions on travelers from China in the past few days, such as presenting negative corona tests when entering or before leaving China. In France and South Korea, PCR tests will also be mandatory after arrival. Australia and Canada also tightened the rules at the weekend. From January 5, both countries will require people arriving from China, Hong Kong or Macau to have a negative test that is no more than two days old.
Morocco is going one step further: According to the Foreign Ministry, from next Tuesday there will be an entry ban for people of all nationalities arriving from the People’s Republic. Morocco had already issued entry bans and strict requirements for tourists in the past in the wake of the pandemic.
Fear of new corona variants
After almost three years of extremely strict precautions, China’s leadership abruptly announced an end to its controversial zero-corona policy on December 7th. According to officially unconfirmed internal estimates, 248 million people, or 18 percent of the population, became infected in the first three weeks of December alone. Scientists warn that the corona wave could produce new variants that would then find their way to other countries.
At a meeting with representatives of Chinese health authorities on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for more detailed and faster status reports on the infection process in the People’s Republic.
