China is facing a rapid increase in the number of cases after the abrupt end of its no-Covid policy.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin After moving away from the strict no-Covid policy in China, the German economy is calling for a Europe-wide uniform approach to travelers from the People’s Republic. “Almost three years of experience with Corona have proven that national solo efforts are dangerous for the internal market and the EU,” said the general manager of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), Steffen Kampeter.
Kampeter calls for ensuring uniform action within the EU – in view of the fact that the EU countries are starting to go it alone. In Italy, for example, all flight passengers from China are required to be tested.
In the past few days, more than 50 percent of people screened after arriving at Milan’s Malpensa Airport are said to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Spain’s Health Minister Carolina Darias also announced on Friday that her country would in future require travelers from the People’s Republic to have a corona test or full vaccination upon entry. She did not give an exact date. Darias and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a unified approach by the EU.
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It doesn’t look like that at the moment. On Thursday, a spokesman for the EU Commission argued that the corona variant Omikron BF.7, which is well represented in China, already exists in Europe. This did not significantly increase the threat. However, you will be careful and use the emergency brake if necessary.
>> Read here: Despite new corona wave – EU rejects Covid tests for visitors from China
EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides appealed to the member states to review their national measures to monitor the virus and, if necessary, to ramp them up again.
“If a new variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus appears – be it in China or in the EU – we have to recognize it early on in order to be able to react quickly,” says the letter, from which the Deutsche Presse- agency cited. A crisis meeting is expected to take place next week to discuss how to proceed.
If a new variant of the SARS-CoV2 virus emerges – be it in China or in the EU – we have to detect it early in order to be able to react quickly. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides
A spokesman for the German Ministry of Health said on Thursday that it does not currently appear that a more dangerous variant of the coronavirus has developed in China. If that were the case, travel would be restricted.
BDA General Manager Kampeter is urging the EU member states to decide on a joint approach in a coordinated manner in the Council and in close cooperation with the EU Commission. “The export-based German economy also needs clear and reliable regulations for people and employees coming and going from China.”
Recommendation of the EU Council: Don’t go it alone
Just two weeks ago, the European Council of Member States passed an updated recommendation on travel to the EU and facilitating freedom of movement within the EU. “The EU must now be measured against this,” said Kampeter. According to the Council Recommendation, Member States should not unilaterally impose travel restrictions for public health reasons.
Only if it is necessary to deal with a serious deterioration in the epidemiological situation should the EU countries decide on suitable measures in a coordinated manner and, for example, be able to demand proof of vaccination, recovery or tests.
If a worrying variant or one that is under observation occurs in a third country, joint, temporary travel restrictions are also possible.
After Italy, Spain also wants to test travelers from the People’s Republic in the future.
(Photo: dpa)
China is facing a rapid increase in the number of cases after the abrupt end of its no-Covid policy. According to unconfirmed internal estimates, 248 million people in the People’s Republic contracted the virus in the first three weeks of December alone.
In the USA, too, travelers from China should have to show a negative corona test from January 5th. India wants to introduce compulsory testing as early as Sunday.
FDP health expert Andrew Ullmann tweeted that the virus variant rampant in China was a subtype of the BA.5 omicron variant prevalent in Germany. Because of the overall good immune situation in Germany, he therefore does not expect a pronounced wave of infections with the subvariant. Green expert Janosch Dahmen spoke out in the “Spiegel” for the time being against the control of travelers from China.
On the other hand, the deputy chairman of the Union faction, Sepp Müller, appealed for compulsory testing. “With the Chinese quarantine requirement lifted, the Chinese are flocking abroad. With the exploding corona numbers on site, the federal government would be well advised to immediately impose a test requirement for people entering China,” said the CDU politician to the editorial network Germany.
With agency material
More: All current corona developments in the news blog.