On Thursday, 5 January, Belgium and Germany announced the introduction of mandatory negative tests for travellers arriving from China, including those on direct flights to Belgium.
“Travellers on direct flights from China to Belgium will have to present a negative Covid test before departure”, announced Belgian Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke on 5 January.
In Germany, travellers coming from China will have to present a negative antigen test upon their arrival.
These decisions were taken in the context of the IPCR group’s coordination meeting that the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU called on 4 January (see EUROPE 13092/1).
The Swedish Presidency strongly encouraged—but did not oblige—Member States to introduce negative test requirements for travellers arriving from China.
The meeting also encouraged—again, without being binding in nature—Member States to carry out random checks on travellers arriving from China, to test and sequence wastewater from international airplanes or those arriving from China, and even to promote vaccination, especially the vaccination of vulnerable groups.
In particular, this coordination meeting aimed to prepare the EU’s response as China, which has already lifted all internal restrictions within the country, prepares to lift all health restrictions imposed on travellers on 8 January. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)