Travellers from China planning to enter Germany will now be subject to mandatory Coronavirus test, following the recent European Union recommendation.
Such a decision has been confirmed by German Health Minister, Karl Lauterbach, and comes as part of efforts to protect citizens’ lives due to the increase in the number of infections that China is facing, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The Health Minister said that Germany would demand at least a rapid test taken before their departure, while stressing that spot COVID tests would also be carried out at random on some travellers in order to recognize virus strains, according to a Deutsche Welle report.
Lauterbach considered the recommendation of the European Union a good decision.
“On this basis we are now also changing German entry rules at short notice,” Lauterbach said.
Yesterday, the European Union countries agreed to recommend that EU countries introduce a pre-departure testing for all those arriving from China and random testing on-arrival as a preventive measure, following the surge in the number of COVID-19 infections in China.
“The Member States are strongly encouraged to introduce, for all passengers departing from China to Member States, the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test taken not more than 48 hours prior to departure from China,” the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union pointed out in this regard through a statement.
EU countries are also advised to recommend travellers on flights to China and vice versa to wear face masks and also issue advice regarding health measures and personal hygiene.
The current epidemiological situation in China has sparked controversies among European countries, while some European countries have decided to introduce travel measures, others do not consider such a decision necessary.
Recently authorities in Greece and Switzerland confirmed that they would not impose restrictions for citizens of China despite the surge in the number of COVID-19 infections.
On the other hand, authorities in France, Spain and Italy, announced that all arrivals from China are subject to compulsory COVID test upon their arrival.
The United Kingdom’s government also joined the list of the European countries that introduced mandatory COVID-19 test requirements when planning to reach this territory.
Recently, the Director-General of World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticised authorities in China for not providing enough data regarding the current situation. In addition, he called on authorities in China to provide regular data in terms of hospitalisation and deaths.
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/germany-to-impose-covid-test-on-arrivals-from-china/
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