Because Japan only wants to let people from China into the country via individual airports, thousands were stuck in the special administrative region.
(Photo: Reuters)
Brussels For the time being, the EU is refraining from introducing corona tests for flight passengers from China. In an emergency meeting on Thursday, the European Health Committee decided that the situation would be monitored further and that coordinated action would be taken if necessary. The committee is made up of representatives from the 27 member states.
The EU Commission scheduled the meeting at Italy’s insistence. Giorgia Meloni’s government introduced mandatory corona tests for travelers from China this week. Since Thursday, every passenger has been tested immediately after landing at the airport.
Meloni is now demanding that the rest of Europe follow suit. Testing will not be effective if it is not done across Europe, the Italian Prime Minister said on Thursday.
>> Read here: 37 million infections a day in China – fear of new virus variants is increasing
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However, other European governments see no need for action. The federal government had already declared on Wednesday that it did not consider tests necessary because no new corona variant had been discovered so far. France and the Scandinavian countries made similar statements.
At the committee meeting, it was agreed to continue the discussion. In any case, the committee can only make recommendations, but cannot make any binding decisions.
Half of the passengers on two flights from China positive
In addition to Italy, the USA, India, Japan and Taiwan have also introduced or announced compulsory testing for passengers from China. In the USA, arrivals from China must show a negative corona test from January 5th.
China has been experiencing a corona wave since the Beijing government abandoned its zero-Covid strategy in early December. Around half of the occupants of two flights from China to Italy tested positive for Corona this week.
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However, when examining the DNA samples, the authorities did not find any new variant. All those affected were infected with the omicron variant, which is already endemic in Europe. “The situation in Italy is under control,” said Meloni. There is no immediate cause for concern.
In Hong Kong, the international requirements raised concerns about a passenger jam. The city government asked Japan to lift the planned restrictions because they affected around 60,000 air travelers.
Japan had announced that from Friday it would only allow flights from Hong Kong and mainland China to land at the two airports in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
More: Opinion – China’s corona easing seems hasty and ill-prepared.