Health experts agree to end the requirement for negative pre-departure Covid-19 tests. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS - EU countries have agreed to phase out Covid-19 restrictions on travellers from China that were put in place to guard against possible new coronavirus variants after China’s reopening prompted a surge in infections there.
Health experts from the 27 EU members agreed at a meeting on Thursday that they would end the requirement for negative pre-departure Covid-19 tests by the end of February, the Swedish presidency of the EU said.The moves were also agreed by non-EU members of the Schengen free travel zone - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The countries agreed on the pre-arrival tests and post-arrival random checks on Jan 4, ahead of China’s easing of its travel restrictions on Jan 8, one of the last vestiges of the world’s strictest regime of Covid-19 restrictions. The measures served only as a recommendations for EU members. Some countries, such as France and Italy, imposed mandatory Covid-19 tests and virus sequencing for passengers coming from China, although Italy loosened its controls at the end of January. REUTERS
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Protests in Wuhan over health insurance underscore risks for China govtIn recent months, residents have demonstrated against firework bans and Covid-19 restrictions. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
EU health regulator looking into annual Covid-19 vaccinesThe agency is also looking at criteria to update vaccines for future inoculation campaigns. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
EU health regulator looking into annual Covid-19 vaccinesLONDON - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) expects Covid-19 vaccination campaigns to be conducted once a year, similar to the approach with flu inoculation, it said on Wednesday. Though the Covid-19-causing virus is not yet behaving like a seasonal virus involved in...
Read more »
China's January air passenger numbers jump 34.8% after COVID-19 curbs easeBEIJING: China's January air passenger traffic rose 34.8 per cent from a year earlier, the aviation regulator said at a regular news conference on Thursday (Feb 16), after the country abandoned its strict zero-COVID policy. China has also resumed scheduled passenger flights with 58 countries since its bord
Read more »
China's top leaders hail 'miracle' of zero-Covid reversalMore than 200 million people had been treated for Covid-19. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
GM sees no slowdown yet, expects hit from China's COVID-19 situationGeneral Motors Co said on Thursday it was seeing no signs of slowing demand for automobiles amid economic worries, adding that it expects the volatile COVID-19 situation in China to impact the US automaker's first-quarter results. 'We still have very good confidence in the market,' said Chief Financial Off
Read more »