The European Union released, on Tuesday (22), a new protocol for rules imposed on travelers from countries outside the bloc. The text excludes the requirement to present tests at airports for people vaccinated with immunizers authorized by the World Health Organization.
The announced rule is a recommendation, although it has been agreed in the European Council, which brings together the heads of states of the members of the group.
In practice, the countries of the continent have the autonomy to decide their rules, but many already adopted similar models – and now the protocol becomes general. In addition, many members of the bloc excluded Indian and Chinese vaccines from their lists, such as Coronavac (in Brazil produced by Butantan, in partnership with Sinovac).
That’s because the European Medicines Agency only authorizes the application of vaccines produced by Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca (made in Europe), Johnson & Johnson and Novavax.
Now, however, the bloc recommends that all 27 members start to accept immunizers recognized by the WHO. Still, countries can oblige people who have received vaccines approved only by the UN-linked organization to present a negative PCR test performed at least 72 hours before departure. Additional measures such as quarantine or isolation are also not excluded.
The idea is that the new rule will take effect from March 1st.
In addition to those already authorized by the European agency, the WHO recognizes the effectiveness of vaccines produced by manufacturers Sinopharm and Sinovac (Coronavac) and by the Indian company Bharat Biotech (Covaxin), in addition to the AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India.
Failure to submit tests will only be valid for travelers who received the final dose of the vaccination cycle at least 14 days before departure and no more than 270 days before arrival in the European country.
People who are not vaccinated but who have recovered from Covid-19 within six months will also not need to present the tests on arrival at the airport, but they must prove that they were infected within the stipulated period.
Young people between the ages of 6 and 18 who meet the conditions established for adults must also be allowed to travel, according to the European Union. Those who are not vaccinated can travel, as long as they present a negative PCR test performed at least 72 hours before departure. The European council makes it clear that countries in the bloc may require additional testing upon arrival, as well as quarantine or isolation.
No additional tests or requirements shall apply to children under 6 years of age.
Situation in Europe
After months of having to enact restrictions to prevent the advancement of the onomicron, European leaders began to announce the easing of emergency measures, as the numbers of hospitalizations for the disease begin to fall. According to consolidated data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), the peak of new cases of the fourth wave was recorded in the last week of January.
In Denmark, for example, the government decided to abolish all health regulations related to Covid-19 and national health authorities are still considering ending the vaccination campaign in the coming months. There, 82% of the population is already fully vaccinated.
In Italy, in turn, 78% of people have completed their first vaccination cycle and more than 60% are immunized with the booster dose. The high rates contributed to the government’s decision to release, in addition to outdoor circulation without masks, the reopening of nightclubs – with reduced public capacity and only for those vaccinated or cured.
Similar openings were also recorded by Spain, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, France, among others.
Also in this wake, on Monday (21), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that he will remove all restrictions still in place to contain Covid-19 in England. According to the new rules, from Thursday (24), people infected with the virus will no longer be forced to isolate themselves.
