To what extent is it justified to impose Covid-19 screening tests on travelers from China? The relevance of this strategy is debated, while around fifteen countries have adopted provisions in this direction, after the abandonment, by the Chinese authorities, on December 7, 2022, of the zero Covid policy in force for almost three years. . South Korea, United States, Israel, Japan, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, United Kingdom: these countries have opted for mandatory tests for travelers coming from China, either on departure either on arrival.
If Beijing judged ces restrictions “unacceptable”, Elisabeth Borne affirmed, Tuesday January 3, that France was “in his role” by requesting these tests. The objective pursued, according to the Prime Minister, is to “to be able to monitor the evolution of the epidemic” thanks to the random tests carried out on French soil, the positive results of the sample giving rise to systematic sequencing.
Since 1is January, France imposes on travelers coming from China a negative test carried out in the forty-eight hours preceding their departure, an up-to-date vaccination certificate (a complete primary vaccination, plus a booster), as well as an obligation to wear a mask during the flight. The health authorities were inspired by an opinion from the committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks (Covars) which was given to them on Thursday December 29, 2022, made public on January 3.
Since China gave up its zero Covid strategy, the Chinese are no longer subject to repeated tests, the sick are no longer forced to isolate themselves in specialized centers and the inhabitants can move freely in the country. Predictable result, an outbreak of contamination. But the information coming from China remains very “plotty “, notes the Covars. Only ” information from testimonies and the press » report a ” major overcrowding of hospitals and crematoriums”, adds the committee. Even so, modellers from the University of Hong Kong estimated that around a third of Beijing’s population was infected between December 14 and 22, “that’s more than a million cases a day”.
Another valuable source of data is Italy, which earlier imposed tests on travelers from China. Among passengers on two planes that landed in Milan on December 28, 2022, the positivity rates were 38% and 52%. A reassuring element, however, “the current wave of new infections in China could end in the coming month”underlines the Covars.
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