After italy, France decides in turn to impose tests on all travelers from China. Faced with an explosion the number of cases in the countrya consequence of the abrupt end this month of the “zero Covid” policythe French government explains that it fears an epidemic rebound on our territory, and the emergence of new variants of Covid-19.
To combat this upstream, three measures will be applied, according to a decree published in the Official Journal this Saturday. All passengers coming from China, wishing to board a direct flight or with a stopover, must present the result of a negative test (PCR or antigen) less than 48 hours before departure as well as a declaration of honor, and from January 5 to 31. France also makes it compulsory to wear a mask on direct flights from the country for all passengers from the age of 6. Finally, on arrival in France, PCR tests will be carried out randomly, starting on January 1.
Positive tests will be sequencing to identify possible variants of the virus. “This is not intended to authorize or not entry into the territory, but to complete the analysis with an epidemiological surveillance sample”, justifies the Ministry of Health. The people concerned “will be informed and will have undertaken, on entering French territory, to isolate themselves”, assures the government. This is also what the decree specifies. No control of compliance with isolation is however planned, even if the persons concerned must “undertake to remain contactable for at most 15 days”.
3,000 people arrive every week from China in France
China’s extremely drastic mandatory testing policy was halted a few days ago, leading to a major reduction in epidemiological surveillance. “The situation in China is being watched very carefully, as it is a hugely populated country. There will be international flows with the Chinese New Year and low immunity, because China has experienced few waves, summarizes Professor Jérôme Salomon, Director General of Health. Vaccine immunity is also questioned. All this means that there is a significant risk of circulation of the virus. For the moment, the specialists are not observing any emergence of any new variant in particular, but there are risk factors because “we are facing an atypical situation”.
The Quai d’Orsay also recommends postponing all non-essential travel to China, especially for frail and immunocompromised travelers. Currently, regarding ten flights per week provide the connection between the two countries, which means that around 3,000 people arrive each week from China in France. But, with the opening of the borders, this rate should quickly increase.
Towards European harmonization… and beyond?
These decisions will once morest the findings of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). On Thursday, the European health agency considered that systematic screening was “unjustified” at this stage in the EU. According to her, health systems “are now able to manage” the disease, and the variants present in China are already present in Europe. The European Commission had, however, convened a meeting on Thursday to “discuss (…) possible measures for a coordinated approach” by EU states in the face of the explosion of cases in China.
As of Wednesday evening, shortly following Italy’s announcement to impose this control on passengers coming from China, the French government had assured “to follow the evolution of the situation very carefully” and said it was “ready”. “to study all the useful measures”. In the evening, the Élysée announced that Emmanuel Macron had “asked the government for appropriate measures to protect the French in this context, and to see both at national and European level”.
Outside the European Union, other countries have taken similar steps. From January 5, travelers to the United States will be required to show a negative Covid test result before boarding their flight. The measure also applies to passengers arriving from Hong Kong and Macau. And, a few minutes following the French decision, the United Kingdom also announced that it would require the presentation of a negative test in order to be able to gain its territory.
