Portugal maintains Covid-19 measures in force, but is monitoring the situation in China – Society
The Ministry of Health reported this Wednesday that Portugal will maintain the control measures for covid-19 currently in force, despite the increase in the number of cases in China, and indicating that it is monitoring the situation.
In a written response to the Lusa agency regarding the increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in China, the Ministry of Health assured that the Portuguese authorities are monitoring the epidemiological situation “in coordination with European partners and international organizations, namely within the scope of the activity of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control”.
Even so, and unlike some countries, Portugal does not foresee the reinforcement of measures to control and mitigate the pandemic.
“At this time, and according to the available information, no changes in procedures or additional measures are foreseen, with genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 continuing through the National Reference Laboratory”, said the Ministry of Health.
The abrupt end of China’s “zero covid” policy is raising concerns in several countries, including the United States, which is considering entry restrictions for Chinese travelers, as China is currently facing the largest wave of infections in the world, amplified by the appearance of new variants.
Chinese authorities ended most measures against Covid-19 without notice on Dec. 7, amid growing public exasperation and a huge hit to the economy after three years of restrictions.
The lack of transparency regarding the number of counts, which the authorities no longer publish daily and say is difficult to count since the tests are no longer mandatory, is also cause for concern.
In view of the increase in infections, the Italian government accepted the possibility of making the covid-19 test mandatory for travelers from China, a measure that was already integrated in the Lombardy region, where the international airport of Malpensa, in Milan, is located.
France also announced this Wednesday that it is ready to “study all the useful measures” and that it is “following the evolution of the situation in China very carefully”, in the face of an explosion in cases of covid-19.
Japan also announced on Wednesday that it will reinstate mandatory testing for travelers from mainland China starting this Friday.
The island of Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, has also announced that it will carry out checks on travelers arriving on mainland Chinese territory.