On 29 December 2022, the EU Health Security Committee had an emergency meeting to assess the need of imposing Covid-19 testing requirements for travellers coming from China. The decision to hold the extraordinary meeting was taken after Italy had implemented the measure at national level earlier this week and asked for a bloc-wide action.
Italy decided to test all arrivals from China after half of the passengers on two flights into Milan’s Malpensa airport tested positive on arrival. Throughout the pandemic, the European Union has taken a coordinated approach regarding travel restrictions and requirements, but Italy took the mandatory testing decision to “ensure the surveillance and identification of new virus variants”, asking officials ahead of their meeting to implement the measure at EU level. The mayor of Bruges also joined the call for the testing requirement, even though Belgium decided against it before the Health Security Committee reached a decision.
Following the meeting, the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), revealed that, after careful consideration, no testing is deemed necessary for arrivals from China, calling “screenings and travel measures on travellers from China unjustified”. Although a new wave of infections has been spreading through the Asian country following the removal of some Covid restrictions, the ECDC does not expect this to impact the EU.
It is crucial that the EU acts united and in coordination regarding any possible public health measures in view of the situation in China.
European Centre for Disease Control
Considering the levels of immunity in China and recent relaxation of the zero-Covid policies, the high levels of infections were anticipated, ECDC said in a statement, adding that this is not a threat in Europe “given higher population immunity in the EU/EEA, as well as the prior emergence and subsequent replacement of variants currently circulating in China”.
Most Member States agree with the EU’s decision. “There is no indication that a more dangerous variant has developed in this outbreak in China, which would bring corresponding travel restrictions”, Germany’s Health Ministry spokesperson, Sebastian Gülde, said. The French Health Ministry also highlighted the importance of a coordinated approach, adding that, at least for the moment, additional measures are not a necessity since “at this stage, the number of Chinese travellers to Europe is limited and will remain so for several weeks, while China’s reopening measures are put in motion and take effect”.
“It is crucial that the EU acts united and in coordination regarding any possible public health measures in view of the situation in China”, the ECDC concluded, adding that the EU will “remain vigilant and will be ready to use the emergency brake if necessary”.
