EU nations to phase out Covid-19 curbs on travellers from China
- Pre-departure and random testing requirements will be lifted after decision by health experts
- The restrictions were imposed on January 4, days before Beijing reopened its international borders
The curbs imposed on January 4 – days before Beijing reopened its international borders – include pre-departure testing for travellers from China, who are also subject to random testing upon arrival. Those two measures will be phased out by the end of February and the middle of March, respectively.
According to the Swedish presidency of the EU, member states met on Thursday to evaluate the measures and agreed on the changes “in light of the recent epidemiological developments and taking into account the opinion of the Health Security Committee”.
The moves were also agreed to by non-EU members of the Schengen border-free travel region – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Italy had earlier switched its compulsory arrival tests for travellers from China to random swabbing, in a sign that European countries are open to easing restrictions. But pre-departure tests are still required.
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Ahead of the announcement from the European bloc, China’s foreign ministry said it was “glad to see” Chinese tourists boosting the recovery of tourism and economic growth in many countries.
