BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union (EU) countries have banned the novel coronavirus for travelers from China, introduced to prevent possible variants of the new coronavirus after China’s economic reopening prompted a surge in infections. Agreed to phase out restrictions on viral infections.
Health experts from 27 EU member states agreed at a meeting on Thursday to end the requirement for negative pre-departure COVID tests by the end of February, the EU’s Swedish presidency said.
It will also stop random screening of travelers from China by mid-March.
[1/2] Italy has ordered antigen swabs and virus sequencing of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for all travelers coming from China, where cases are surging, at Malpensa airport in Milan, Italy, December 29, 2022 Passengers waiting in line.Reuters/Jennifer Lorenzini
The move was also agreed by non-EU member states of the Schengen free travel zone, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Countries will begin pre-arrival testing and post-arrival random checks on January 4, before China eases travel restrictions on January 8, one of the last vestiges of the world’s toughest COVID restriction regime. agreed.
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This measure served only as a recommendation to EU Member States.some countries such as France and ItalyItaly eased its controls at the end of January but imposed mandatory COVID tests and virus sequencing on passengers coming from China.
Reported by Philip Blenkinsop Edited by Bill Berkrot
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