BRUSSELS, Jan. 3 () –
The European Commission has proposed testing travelers from China before they leave the country and increasing surveillance of wastewater on planes as possible measures to control the arrival in the European Union (EU) of people who They travel from the Asian country due to the outbreak of Covid-19 cases and the withdrawal of most restrictions.
At this Tuesday’s meeting of the Health Security Committee (CSS), all Member States have agreed on a coordinated approach to the “changing” situation of COVID-19 in China and the implications of the arrival in Europe of travelers from the giant Asia, as confirmed by a Commission spokesman.
Brussels has prepared a draft opinion to guide the debate that will now be reviewed and adopted on the basis of the contributions of the Member States at the meeting, while a new debate will be held this Wednesday at the meeting of the Integrated Political Response mechanism to Crises (IPCR), convened by the Swedish Council Presidency.
Thus, it will be up to the Member States to debate the draft opinion of the Health Security Committee, which proposes measures on personal hygiene and health for travelers (including the recommendation to wear a mask on flights from China), control of wastewater from aircraft, genomic surveillance at airports and greater control and sequencing, greater EU surveillance in terms of testing and vaccination or carrying out prior tests on passengers from China.
According to the same Commission spokesman, the “vast majority” of EU countries are in favor of carrying out tests prior to leaving the country, while all measures would have to be directed at the “most suitable” flights and airports ” and carried out in a coordinated manner to guarantee its effectiveness.
