By now , globally , countries have started taking measures against travelers from china , more than a dozen of them have already notified fresh travel regulations on arrivals from China, as the world’s most populous nation sees a surge in Covid-19 variant cases following its decision to relax strict virus restrictions.
A 4th January crisis meeting of European Union experts decided to strongly encourage EU countries to demand Covid-19 tests from passengers coming from China.
The meeting also recommended that passengers to and from China wear face masks, that EU countries conduct random tests on arrivals and test wastewater from flights from China, according to a statement issued by the Swedish presidency of the EU.
However , Airlines represented by A4E (Airlines for Europe) and IATA (International Air Transport Association), together with airports represented by ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), are critical of such decision as they lamented the recommendation agreed jointly by EU member states.
Visuals from August 2020 are going to be repeated in European Airports , atleast for travelers from China
Wednesday’s meeting was held to coordinate a joint EU response to a sudden inflow of visitors from China after Beijing lifted its “zero-Covid” policy that for three years had imposed strict restrictions on movement in the country when infections were detected.
Deliberations in the meeting ran hours later than initially expected by Sweden, which chaired it, suggesting differing points of view among the EU’s 27 member states.
However the Joint statement by Airlines represented by A4E (Airlines for Europe) and IATA (International Air Transport Association), together with airports represented by ACI EUROPE read,
"Such a recommendation is at odds with the assessment published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on 3 January 20231, which confirms that the current surge of COVID-19 cases in China is not expected to impact the epidemiological situation in the EU/EEA. "
"This is because the COVID-19 variants circulating in China are already present in the EU/EEA, as well as the higher immunity acquired by the population of the EU. As such, systematically testing incoming travellers from China cannot be considered a scientifically driven and risk-based measure."
After the European Union experts meet, the member states had agreed to recommend a “precautionary approach” amid fears that unmonitored arrivals from China could introduce a new variant or subvariant of the coronavirus in Europe capable of evading existing vaccines.
Additionally , EU countries had expressed concern that Chinese data on Covid infections was insufficient, a view expressed Wednesday by the World Health Organization.
On the other hand , A4E, ACI EUROPE and IATA do not support the testing of passengers and encourage an alternative means of testing and sampling, the Joint statement read ,
"A4E, ACI EUROPE and IATA support getting away from testing passengers as a way to track COVID-19. In this regard, the recommendation to test wastewater from airports and aircraft arriving from China offers an alternative."
"This must however come with detailed consideration of technical and operational practicalities before any decision is taken to deploy wastewater sampling at airports and aircraft. When required, airports and airlines will do their utmost to facilitate such sampling – on the understanding that it needs to be carried out by the competent health authorities, as airport and airline staff are not qualified to do so."
The EU experts said member states should conduct random Covid tests on incoming passengers, test wastewater from flights and airports, and continue promoting vaccinations and booster jabs.
While , the EU experts advice on the “hygiene and health measures” should be given to incoming and outgoing international travellers as well as aircraft and airport staff , they also said that they would continue to monitor the situation in the EU and in China “including the level of data shared”.
A4E, ACI EUROPE and IATA added further,
While it is regrettable that the recommendations agreed yesterday largely amount to a knee-jerk reaction, it is now vital that they are implemented by EU member states in a fully uniform manner – in full compliance with the addendums to the EU Aviation Health Safety Protocol to be published in the coming days by EASA and ECDC. These addendums will provide detailed guidance regarding passenger testing and wastewater testing.
Fearing a dip in air travel in the coming months , A4E, ACI EUROPE and IATA are looking forward to further engaging with the EU on the reassessment of these recommendations by mid-January 2023.
They have also requested the EU member states and China to work together and to reconsider at the earliest opportunity their requirements for systematic pre-departure testing of travellers based on a scientifically driven risk assessment.
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