The governments of France and the United Kingdom announced this Saturday that they will impose Covid-19 tests on travelers from mainland China, joining Italy, Spain, Japan, Israel or the United States from January 5.
The British Ministry of Health, in a statement released, confirmed that from January 5, travelers from China will have to enter the UK if they test negative for Covid-19 before leaving the Asian country. .
In the document, the British government says that, for now, the requirement only applies to passengers arriving from China on direct flights to English airports. Although there are currently no direct services from that country to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, the British administration is working with governments to expand operations to the whole of England.
This morning, the French government issued a decree specifying the effective dates of the measures announced by the executive on Friday night for travelers departing from China from January 5.
The measures, which are in place until January 31, also provide for random PCR tests on arrival in France from Sunday and the mandatory use of masks for passengers over the age of six on flights departing from China.
According to the decree, starting January 5, passengers over 11 years of age arriving by air from China must submit a negative test upon departure and within 48 hours of boarding.
“These travelers should undergo a random screening test upon arrival in the national territory and self-isolate in case of a positive result,” the text said.
The Asian giant introduced tighter restrictions on flights after Beijing confirmed it would reopen borders on January 8 for the first time since March 2020.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, speaking today, assured that “a ray of hope lies ahead for the Chinese” as their country faces an explosion in Covid-19 cases after the lifting of health restrictions.
“Epidemic prevention and control has entered a new stage. We are still in a difficult time”, but “the light of hope is ahead of us”, said Xi Jinping, in a New Year’s address broadcast on national television.
In Portugal, the health minister announced on Friday to the Lusa agency that he would adopt measures at airports to control travelers from China. A recent increase in epidemics in the Chinese population.
According to the minister, the government is monitoring the evolution of Covid-19 in China, which is “worrying”, “maintaining close dialogue with other European countries, namely within the framework of the European Union and with international health organizations”.
On the same day, the European Commission recognized an “alarming” increase in Covid-19 cases in China and recommended surveillance measures to member states.
In a letter to the EU’s 27 health ministers, quoted by Europa Press, European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakites says Brussels is “focusing on developments” it considers to be ready, however, there are currently no common measures.
The Directorate-General for Health, in its weekly report on respiratory viruses, acknowledges that the daily increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections in China in recent days is “a situation that should be closely monitored in the coming period.” Weeks”.
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