At the dawn of 2023, the nightmare of the pandemic returns: Italy requests a common stance from the EU – European countries are taking measures

The Meloni government is changing course for the coronavirus. Italy is the first country to impose mandatory tests on passengers arriving at its airports from China. The Italian Minister of Health, Horatio Scilacci, asked Brussels to apply this specific measure to all member countries of the Union, so that the problem of passengers arriving “in transit” from foreign airports can be solved, reports the DW.

The Ministry of Health of Rome, with its special circular, refers to the adoption of new measures, in case of worsening of the situation. If necessary, the use of masks in closed spaces will be re-enforced, events involving large gatherings will be avoided and a new emphasis will be placed on the vaccination campaign. Also a fourth installment for the entire population, a fifth for those citizens suffering from chronic diseases and, in parallel, a possible return to various forms of telework.

The press, today, underlines that this is a different approach, especially compared to what the conservative alliance that now governs the country had supported in the past. The pandemic, at this stage, again causes concern, regardless of political position. In recent months milder symptoms of the disease had been recorded and for this reason it had been decided to close almost all of Italy’s large vaccination centers.

The newspaper Corriere della Sera writes today that the government of Georgia Meloni insists, however, that no new “lockdowns” will be decided and that the country is not going to return to the “vaccinated green pass”. “There will be an emphasis on protective masks and vaccines, but we will not limit individual freedoms,” said the Italian prime minister. It is clear, however, that the whole climate has changed, and that hospitals and family doctors are, once again, on guard. And while in Germany Health Minister Karl Lauterbach does not consider it appropriate to adopt measures at airports for travelers from China, a number of other countries, such as the US, Britain, Israel and South Korea, but also from the EU, France and Spain also impose a mandatory negative test for those coming from China.

Britain: All travelers from China tested for coronavirus

Britain thus follows the example of many other countries that impose restrictions on travelers from China, such as France, the US, India or Israel.
The British government announced tonight that from January 5 travelers from China will have to be tested for Covid-19 48 hours before departure, after Beijing lifted health restrictions.

Britain thus follows the example of many other countries that impose restrictions on travelers from China, such as France, the US, India or Israel.

“While Covid cases are increasing in China, ahead of the opening of (the country’s) borders next week, the right thing for us is to take a balanced and prudent approach by announcing temporary measures while we study the data,” the health minister explained Steve Barkley in a statement.

All passengers on direct flights from mainland China will be required to show a negative test before departure. This measure only applies to England, however the government clarified that there are no direct flights to other UK destinations (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland).

In addition, British health authorities will carry out random tests on some passengers on arrival, mainly to detect any new variants of the virus.

“This decision was taken (…) due to a lack of complete information from China,” noted the minister. The measures will be revised depending on the data provided by Beijing.

Measures also from France, Spain

One after the other, the countries are “fortifying” themselves against China after the outbreak of coronavirus cases and the fear of new mutations. After Spain and Israel, France has announced that travelers arriving from China will have to be tested for Covid-19 before their flight departs.

Travelers must show a negative test for the novel coronavirus before boarding and wear a mask during the flight. Random tests are also planned on arrival to sequence the genome and detect any new variants of SARS-CoV-2, a government source said.

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