European alarm for the outbreak of the coronavirus in China – Today the decisions to take measures

By Athena Papakosta

For fear of falling asleep again, the European Union is trying to fortify itself for the time being China is facing a new, vertical outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. A meeting of the crisis response mechanism is expected today in order to reach a joint step between the Member States to take immediate, common measures for the possible introduction of entry requirements for all those traveling from China.

Already yesterday, the EU Health Security Committee met for the coronavirus. THE majority of the Member States advocated mandatory testing for travelers before they leave China for the European Union. The co-decided action includes pre-departure testing of travelers from China, enhanced sewage monitoring and increased domestic surveillance.

And while the EU strives for unity against Covid-19, various Member States have taken – at the national level – measures for a week. The beginning was made by Italy, which requires a coronavirus test for everyone traveling from China. Measures for travelers from China have also been announced by France and Spain. In particular, Paris calls for negative coronavirus tests, urges French citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China while reinstating the mandatory use of the mask on flights from China to France. At the same time, Madrid asks for a negative test or vaccination certificate.

On his part, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Controln insisted that the health situation in China does not constitute an immediate health threat, while some scientists point out that the coronavirus variants that dominate the country are also found in Europe and do not raise fears about the immune response of the Member States. However, the fear of the emergence of new variants is gaining ground and now at least 14 countries across the globe are taking restrictive measures in an attempt to pre-empt the opening of Chinese borders on January 8 for the first time since 2020.

At the same time, Beijing reacts and threatens countermeasures. A representative of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized: “we are strongly opposed to such practices of manipulation of measures for Covid-19 for political reasons” and added that “we will proceed with countermeasures based on the principle of reciprocity”. It is not the first time that China and the West are at knifepoint. No one has forgotten that the first case of coronavirus was recorded in Wuhan, China in the not-so-distant 2019 with the Chinese government strongly resisting efforts to investigate the origin of the virus. A new episode is about to be added to this controversy “serial”. The European Union has lent a helping hand to Beijing, which is racing against time to vaccinate the Chinese population. But the offer was rejected with China insisting on refusing Western vaccines.

But in the country, after three years of inhuman restrictions, the time of infections has arrived since the Chinese citizens, remaining locked in their homes, have not “built” natural immunity. Official figures for cases and deaths remain unknown, but Beijing has admitted for the first time that there is a sharp rise in cases and a high death toll. In the hospitals of the Chinese capital, the pressure is intensifying, while in the financial capital, Shanghai, things are also difficult. Chen Erzhen, a doctor and vice president of a hospital in the city, warns that the majority of Shanghai’s 25 million residents may be infected, with the spread of the pandemic now widespread and reaching 70% of the population, according to AFP. . But the battle seems to be taking place in rural areas as well, with the media talking about drug shortages and the suffering of the elderly population, who may need to travel a distance of up to two hours to get the essentials, such as medicine.

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