Netherlands, Portugal require COVID tests for China arrivals

The Dutch and Portuguese governments on Friday joined a rising variety of nations requiring air passengers arriving from China to indicate a adverse COVID-19 take a look at upon entry.

Greater than a dozen nations have slapped contemporary journey laws on vacationers from the world’s most populous nation, which is fighting a surge in COVID circumstances following its determination to calm down strict virus restrictions.

The Dutch measures, which can come into pressure on Tuesday, are according to European Union suggestions, the well being ministry stated.

“I believe it can be crucial for us herald journey restrictions as a part of European anti-COVID measures,” stated Well being Minister Ernst Kuipers stated.

Amsterdam-Schiphol is one among Europe’s largest airports and is a hub for quite a few intercontinental flight connections.

Later Friday Portugal’s well being ministry adopted go well with, saying that passengers taking a flight from China must current a adverse take a look at for COVID-19 earlier than boarding the aircraft, with their new guidelines coming into forces on Saturday.

Each governments, of their bulletins on Friday, stated that face masks ought to be worn on such flights.

EU specialists on Wednesday “strongly inspired” the bloc’s 27 member states to demand COVID exams from folks on flights from China and conduct random exams on arrivals.

A number of different EU nations—together with Germany, France, Germany, Italy and Spain —- have already introduced COVID take a look at necessities on these arriving from China.

The US and Japan are among the many non-European nations to have introduced in comparable measures.

© 2023 AFP