Germany will also introduce a test requirement for travelers from China because of the corona wave there. This was announced by Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach. The German entry regulation will be changed at short notice, travelers from China will need at least one rapid antigen test when traveling to Germany, said the SPD politician.
Lauterbach, like almost all virologists, had stated several times in the past few days that travelers from China do not have to have their own test mandatory because there is no risk of new variants to be expected. Against the background of European unification, however, he now changed course. A “good decision” is the European response to the pandemic situation in China.
In addition to the obligation to test, the Minister of Health announced random checks upon entry to identify virus variants. In addition, there will be additional waste water controls for trips to China. A spokesman for the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that there were already sewage tests at Frankfurt Airport. This could be expanded, for example, by examining the wastewater from individual aircraft from China. Austria had announced that it would do this for all flights from China starting next week. It is still unclear when the rule will come into force.
At the beginning of December, the government in Beijing announced an abrupt departure from its strict zero-Covid policy under the pressure of protests and a flagging economy. Since then, a corona wave has been rolling through the country with around 1.4 billion inhabitants. Because China is also opening its borders this Sunday and citizens can travel more easily again, the EU states felt compelled to discuss possible corona consequences.
Only on Wednesday did representatives of the 27 EU member states agree to only make a recommendation for mandatory testing, which should not be binding. Lauterbach, among others, saw no need for mandatory tests for people entering China. Austria has also so far rejected a mandatory test, while Italy, Spain and France have already pushed ahead and introduced stricter entry rules. The US, Australia, Japan, UK, India and other countries have also imposed restrictions on travelers from China.
Lauterbach only spoke out in favor of stricter “variant monitoring”. The Federal Minister of Health was particularly concerned about a variant from America. XBB.1.5. Lauterbach wrote on Twitter that the number of hospital admissions in the north-east of the USA is currently increasing sharply. “Hopefully we can get through the winter before such a variant can spread to us.” The situation in Germany is being closely monitored in this regard.