AFP extension
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
EU countries appear to want to act together in imposing travel restrictions on passengers from China. In recent weeks, several countries have already imposed restrictions on travelers from China, now that the corona virus has flared up there in full force. The next day, senior officials from member states will discuss joint measures.
A large majority of member states are in favor of at least three measures, according to yesterday’s preliminary consultations. For example, they want passengers on flights from China to be tested for the virus before departure, a measure several European countries have already taken.
Also, most countries want to work on face mask recommendations for flights from China. Wastewater research also needs to be stepped up. The US has recently announced more than that to do research. Investigating sewer particles provides insight into the variants that are circulating. New variants can be detected in good time.
Free self-test at Schiphol
Last week, member states also had a meeting on a common approach, but nothing concrete came of it. EU countries also determine their own policy in the field of public health and border management. Spain, Italy and France, among others, have already decided to announce measures themselves.
The Netherlands has so far gone less far. Ahead of the weekend, Minister Kuipers (Public Health) announced that travelers from China would be allowed to travel to Schiphol from January 5 be offered a free self-test. He also asked RIVM to check the wastewater around Schiphol more for viral particles.
Experts in the Netherlands have indicated in a European context that they do not see joint measures as necessary. But if there is a majority within member states, the Netherlands will agree, EU sources expect.
Fairly high vaccination rate
The European counterpart of the RIVM, the ECDC, believes that joint measures are unnecessary. The report points out that the vaccination rate in the EU is quite high and that residents are generally well protected against the variants now circulating in China. The European Commission follows this advice, but ultimately it is up to the Member States to decide on a common approach.
The talks follow an explosion of infections in China. After the easing of the extremely strict corona policy, people were infected on a large scale within a short time.
EU member states that have already introduced measures want to prevent new variants from arriving in Europe with travellers, they say. As far as we know, only the variants that we already know here are currently circulating in China, even though Beijing is releasing information about the epidemic in dribs and drabs.
