Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg advise against non-essential travel to China. The reason is the peak of corona infections and the overloaded healthcare system in the country, reports the German Foreign Ministry. The Netherlands still has yellow travel tips for China. There are, however, rules for travelers arriving in the Netherlands from China.
The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that China has experienced an unprecedented covid wave since the beginning of December due to the “interruption of the zero-covid policy. Due to a possible overcrowding of hospitals and the risk that urgent medical care can no longer be provided that non-essential travel is currently discouraged.” Luxembourg joined Germany and Belgium.
Last week, the European Union strongly recommended that its 27 member states screen travelers from China for COVID-19 before flights. Testing should also be carried out upon arrival on European soil.
Several countries, including the Netherlands since Friday, have decided that a negative corona test is required for travelers from China from next week.
On Sunday, China reopens its borders after a long time. A negative PCR test up to 48 hours ago is required to enter China, but quarantine is no longer required. Beijing finds the obligation to test other countries “unacceptable” and threatened countermeasures last week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in turn denounces the controversial methods with which China counts the number of corona victims. Despite overwhelmed hospitals and crowded crematoria, Beijing authorities are reporting very few covid-related deaths.
