The Official State Gazette (BOE) published the resolution on Saturday 31 December establishing the health control measures to be applied to passengers on flights originating in China, so that those of other origins, such as Hong Kong, would not be affected.
The urgent health surveillance and control measure was launched before high transmission of coronavirus in china which represent a “serious epidemiological risk, in application of the precautionary principle, in particular to detect the appearance of new variants”.
The Ministry of Health, in its resolution published in the BOE, notes “the significant deterioration of the epidemiological situation with respect to COVID-19 in the People’s Republic of China”. A circumstance that “is aggravated by the lack of transparency and epidemiological information on the part of the Chinese authorities”. This situation also coincides with the lifting of travel restrictions in this country as of January 8, 2023 and celebrate their new year on January 22nd.
Thus, from this same Saturday, the Foreign Health teams, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda through AENA, health checks will be carried out on these passengers at the airports of entry into Spainwhich will consist of a documentary, visual and temperature check and the performance of a diagnostic test for active SARS-CoV-2 infection.
In case this active infection test makes a positive result“The communication and coordination protocols established with the health services of the autonomous communities will be activated”.
Therefore, the first flight affected by the health control measures taken by the government will arrive at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 18:00 this Saturday 31 December. The checks will initially be in force until 12:00 pm on February 15, 2023.
Covid certificate from January 3rd
In this context, Health explained that the resolution was also published this Saturday It also provides for the obligation of an EU COVID Digital Certificate (EU-CCD) or equivalent to all passengers on flights from China from next January 3rd.
In the case of vaccination certificates, the vaccination guidelines established in the vaccination strategy against COVID-19 in Spain will be accepted.
As for negative diagnostic tests, in Spain Molecular Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) will be accepted, the sample of which was obtained within 72 hours prior to departure; and antigen detection tests included in the common list of rapid antigen detection tests for COVID-19, approved by the European Union Health Security Committee, the sample of which was obtained within 24 hours before departure.
In the case of a recovery certificate, those issued by the competent authority will be accepted as valid or by a medical service at least 11 days after the first successful NAAT diagnostic test or antigen detection test performed by health care professionals or trained personnel. The certificate will be valid for 180 days from the date of the first positive result of the diagnostic test.
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For last, in case you do not have an EU digital COVID certificate or equivalent, passengers must have an active COVID-19 infection diagnostic test certificate with a negative result, such as those listed above.
