On Thursday, the European Union Health Agency expressed its belief that Enforcement of covid checks Mandatory for travelers coming from China, “unjustified”, despite the increase in the number of injuries in the Asian country.
The United States and several other countries have made mandatory COVID-19 checks for travelers arriving from China.
But the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention considered in a statement that this type of measure is not necessary for the European Union.
The sharp rise in the number of infections is putting pressure on hospitals across China following Beijing decided to lift the strict health rules through which it managed to control the epidemic, but it dealt a blow to the economy and sparked widespread protests.
Corona tests in Shanghai, China (Archyde.com)
China said this week that it would abolish mandatory quarantine for arrivals from abroad, prompting many Chinese to plan travel.
However, the European Center stated that it does not believe that the high number of infections in China will affect the epidemiological situation in the bloc, “given the higher population immunity within the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area, in addition to the fact that mutants that are currently circulating in China have previously appeared and subsequently changed.”
Consequently, the agency considered that “the examinations and procedures related to travel for those coming from China are not justified.”
She added that the number of infections coming from abroad is “low” compared to the numbers recorded locally daily, which health systems can “currently deal with”.
The European Commission convened a meeting of the European Union’s Health Security Committee on Thursday to discuss possible measures.
“It is essential that the European Union act in a unified and coordinated manner on any possible public health measures in light of the situation in China,” a spokesperson for the Commission told AFP.
He added that the commission “will continue to facilitate talks between member states.”
