Luxembourg agrees with the German council. The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that China has experienced an unprecedented covid surge since the beginning of December due to the interruption of the zero-covid policy. Due to possible overcrowding in hospitals and the risk of a lack of urgent medical care as a result, non-essential travel is currently discouraged.’
Last week, the European Union strongly encouraged its 27 member states to screen travelers from China for covid before flights and possibly get tested upon arrival on European soil. Many countries, including the Netherlands since Friday, have decided that travelers from China will need a negative corona test from next week.
Reopening
That country will reopen its borders on Sunday after a long lockdown. A negative PCR test for up to 48 hours is required to enter China, but quarantine is no longer required. Beijing finds the obligation to test other countries “unacceptable” and threatened countermeasures last week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in turn denounces the controversial methods with which China counts the number of corona victims. Despite overwhelmed hospitals and crowded crematoria, Beijing authorities are reporting very few covid-related deaths.