Swedish EU presidency defends common attitude, Canada restores tests for travelers

Sweden, which ensures from January 1 the half -year presidency of the European Union, “is looking for a common policy”.

MO12345LEMONDE with AFP

The member states of the European Union must discuss Wednesday January 4 of a joint response to adopt with regard to travelers from China, where the COVVI-19 epidemic appears out of control, announced on Saturday 31 December 2022 Sweden, which ensures from 1 er January the semi -annual presidency of the EU.

“Sweden is looking for a common policy for the entire EU regarding the possible introduction of entry restrictions,” the Swedish government said in a press release.

Stockholm said it has decided to activate the IPCR, a tool that allows advice a rapid political reaction in crisis situations. “It is important that we put in place measures quickly,” said the same source.

While Beijing suddenly ended his draconian policy of “zero covid”, leading to an explosion of contamination in the country, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, in unison United States or South Korea, have decided this week to impose a COVVID test on travelers from China.

Latest, Canada announced on Saturday that it would require a test. Travelers will have to present a negative test for boarding in China less than 48 hours earlier, the Canadian government said in a press release. 2> “Due to the little epidemiological data”

According to Ottawa, the measure is “a response to the posed of Covid-19 in the People’s Republic of China and due to the little epidemiological data and sequencing the genome available on these cases”. The measure will come into force on January 5 and will be reassessed after thirty days.

The Canadian government has also indicated that it would analyze all wastewater from international flights to Toronto and Vancouver in order to monitor the possible appearance of new variants.

The European Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases has deemed such a measure “unjustified”, highlighting the high vaccination rate in Europe.

/Media reports cited above.