Balkans | As China opens its borders, more and more countries are taking measures to close their doors to the pandemic

Austria, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Greece also joined the countries announcing new Covid-19 measures for arrivals from China.

After China, where the Covid-19 epidemic appeared, announced that it would change its policy towards the epidemic and lift international travel restrictions and border measures, the number of countries that tightened measures against passengers coming from there increased.

China National Health Commission, “Class A” COVID-19 Epidemic New countries have joined those that have announced that they will take measures for those coming from China from January 8, which was announced as the date on which restrictions imposed in accordance with the Border Health and Quarantine Act will be lifted.

After the strict measures against COVID-19 began to be eased, the epidemic has gradually spread to China, which has a population of 1.4 billion, and countries are worried that this spread will lead to new epidemic waves.

Epidemiological precautions for those coming from China

Austria, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Greece were also among the countries announcing new Covid-19 measures for arrivals from China today. The countries concerned have decided to seek testing requirements for those traveling from China.

On December 28, India and Japan required Kovid-19 testing for travelers through China, while additional measures were taken in Malaysia, such as strengthening testing apps, vaccine and Kovid-19 tracking.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that, with its decision on December 28, it has become mandatory to take a Covid-19 test and to offer a negative test for those arriving from China from January 5.

Spain announced that a full test or vaccine would be required on December 30, and Italy would require a Covid-19 test on December 28 and provide a test with a negative result.

England, which joined countries tightening measures on Dec. 30, said it was decided that passengers arriving from China into the country, from Jan. 5, must take a Kovid-19 test and present a negative test result two days in advance. their travel.

On January 1, when Canada announced that arrivals from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macau must show a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight, Morocco also decided to ban all travelers from China from entering the country until further notice.

At a meeting of crisis management officials from EU and non-Schengen member states on January 4 in Brussels, agreement was reached on implementing coordinated measures. At the meeting, it was announced that while a Kovid-19 test is not directly mandatory, EU countries would “strongly encourage” a request for a negative test 48 hours before a flight.

The Netherlands has announced that from January 5, free Kovid-19 tests will be distributed at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to those arriving from China.

On the other hand, Australia, which stated that it does not see the need for additional procedures and restrictions for passengers coming from China, announced that it would change its decision later and take measures for those coming from China.

In addition to these countries, France, Qatar, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan were among the countries that implemented some measures, such as screening travelers from China and their regions, and compulsory vaccination or monitoring their health status.

Beijing will respond to ‘disproportionate’ measures

After many countries announced their measures for travelers from China and its regions, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that some of the measures were “disproportionate” and “unacceptable” and that countermeasures would be taken.

Mao stated that they are ready to increase communication with the international community on this issue, but they do not believe that the measures taken by some countries have a scientific basis.

They oppose the use of COVID-19 measures for political purposes and discriminatory measures against certain countries, spokesperson Mao emphasized, “Some of these measures are simply disproportionate and unacceptable. In response to various situations, we will take countermeasures on the basis of reciprocity.” He said.

China, the host country for the first cases

In the Covid-19 epidemic, China, where the first cases were seen in Wuhan, Hebei Province, was the country where the first requests were made to hospitals and the first deaths were recorded.

China managed to control the virus for a long time with the strict measures called “zero cases” that it implemented since the beginning of the epidemic, but these measures, which caused great economic losses, made daily life unsustainable due to the repeated epidemics that they caused. by highly contagious variants.

China’s National Health Commission announced on December 26 that COVID-19 will cease to be considered a “class A epidemic” from January 8, and restrictions under the Health Law and border quarantine will be lifted.

It was reported that with the new app, travelers arriving from abroad will not have to obtain a health code from Chinese embassies and consulates before traveling, nor will they be placed in centralized quarantine even if they test positive upon arrival.

In a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China on December 29, it said that the restrictions on the number of flights and passengers on international flights due to the epidemic will not be implemented from January 8.

China is facing the largest spread of COVID-19 in the world after easing measures. New cases of infection are estimated at thousands of deaths each day, as health authorities stop disclosing the daily numbers of cases, deaths, and patients. The growing density of hospitals, clinics, morgues and crematoriums reveals the seriousness of the epidemic picture.

According to estimates by Airfinity, a health data services and analysis company based in London, the capital of England, the number of daily cases in the country exceeded one million in mid-December, while 18.6 million people were infected with Covid-19 during the month. . The company estimates that the daily death toll reached 9,000 by the end of December.

AA