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EU to phase out Covid-19 tests for travellers from China

EU to phase out Covid-19 tests for travellers from China
Passengers wait in a queue, after Italy has ordered coronavirus disease (Covid-19) antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers coming from China, where cases are surging, at the Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, on Dec 29, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters

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 (Feb 16) that they would end the requirement for negative pre-departure Covid tests by the end of February, the Swedish presidency of the EU said.

They would also stop random testing of travellers from China by the middle of March.

The moves were also agreed by non-EU members of the Schengen free travel zone - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

ALSO READ: Most EU countries back Covid-19 pre-departure testing for flights from China

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 restrictions.

The measures served only as a recommendations for EU members. Some countries, such as France and Italy, imposed mandatory Covid tests and virus sequencing for passengers coming from China, although Italy loosened its controls at the end of January.

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