News about the mandatory testing of passengers arriving from China to Germany. Last Minute GERMANY, Belgium, France, England, Spain headlines and events

BERLIN –

Following China’s decision to ease its zero-COVID policy and reopen its borders, Germany introduced testing of travelers from China on Jan. 8.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has announced that all passengers flying from China to Germany will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test, and those who cannot present it will be required to be tested at airports. “Random tests will also be carried out at the entrance to identify variants of the virus and analysis of aircraft wastewater,” the minister said.

Lauterbach also said that the rules for entering Germany from airports will be changed soon for said application.

The Minister of Health added that all travelers to and from China are advised to wear medical masks.

On the last day of 2022, Lauterbach, who was assessing the need for COVID-19 testing for passengers arriving from China to Germany by air, said he met with European Union (EU) Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. on the matter and said, “In the current situation, the options we see are the known options. “Such testing requirements are not needed yet,” he said. Lauterbach noted that the EU should act in concert on this issue.

Referring to the EU travel advice to China announced last night following the new decision, the minister called it a “good decision”.

In a statement made by the European Council, which Sweden presides over, passengers were not expressly required to be tested for COVID-19. However, it was stated that EU countries also “strongly recommend” requesting a negative test 48 hours before departure from all passengers from China.

In addition to Germany, other EU countries such as Belgium and Sweden have announced mandatory tests.

According to the decision, those arriving in Sweden from China must take a negative test within three weeks from Saturday and initially.

EU countries such as France, Italy and Spain have also recently decided that passengers from China must provide a negative coronavirus test.

The UK noted that from today, people traveling on direct flights from China will be asked to take a COVID-19 test before departure. From January 8, passengers from China will be required to be tested upon arrival.

Warning XBB.1.5 from Germany

On the other hand, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, speaking about a new variant of COVID-19, XBB.1.5, causing concern around the world, said that the variant caused an increase in infections in the United States. , and said: “We will be watching closely to see if you see the XXB.1.5 in Germany. We see,” he said.

The minister said that XXB.1.5 has so far been found in 29 countries, including Europe.

In the last week of 2022, 40.5% of new coronavirus infections were new subvariants, according to information provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many health experts have said that it is only a matter of time before XXB.1.5 appears in Germany and said that the new variant has overcome the immunity caused by the previous disease and its infectivity is high.

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