France lifts COVID testing requirements for travellers from China, other EU countries to follow

EU countries have agreed to period out pre-departure COVID-19 screening for travellers from China by the finish of the thirty day period.

When China reopened its borders and eased its stringent zero-COVID insurance policies last month, the EU originally unsuccessful to concur on a unified tactic to incoming travelers.

As concerns mounted about China’s suspected absence of transparent reporting on the virus, some countries ramped up their entry necessities to stop its spread and the EU advisable introducing pre-departure testing.

Italy was 1 of the first European nations around the world to tighten limits, ordering COVID-19 antigen swabs for all travellers coming from China – and was one particular of the very first to simplicity them in late January. Spain quickly introduced its very own testing demands, adopted by France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Cyprus.

A assertion launched by the Swedish Presidency on Thursday confirmed EU member states and Schengen Spot nations have collectively agreed to drop pre-departure tests from the stop of February.

Random testing of travellers from China will be carried out right up until mid-March when it, much too, will be dropped.

France has currently gone forward and dropped both of those of these actions forward of timetable.

What are the policies for individuals travelling into China?

On 8 January, China lifted its quarantine prerequisite for inbound travellers. A detrimental PCR examination taken within 48 hours of arrival is however demanded. Outcomes need to be submitted on a Health Declaration Sort by means of the China Customs site.

Passengers displaying indicators of fever may perhaps be requested to undertake an antigen examination on arrival in China. All those who exam favourable will be unveiled to self-quarantine if signs are mild, or encouraged to go to a medical establishment for analysis and cure if symptoms are far more critical.

This is a key step in direction of easing curbs on its borders, which have been mainly shut considering that 2020. The principles have steadily been easing in modern months to aid the two domestic and worldwide vacation.

To enter Hong Kong, you ought to provide a destructive fast antigen check taken no much more than 24 several hours prior to departure or a negative PCR take a look at no additional than 48 in advance of. Tests on arrival is proposed but not enforced. If you check optimistic for COVID-19, you are no for a longer period needed to isolate.

As of 6 February, passengers no longer want to display evidence of vaccination to enter Hong Kong. Nor do they have to exam or quarantine when travelling between Hong Kong and China.