Finland is considering the EU’s recommendations on Covid tests for those arriving from China | News
Finland and the EU are concerned that China’s lifting of restrictions and low vaccination rates threaten to spread new Covid variants.
The government’s Covid ministerial working group will meet on Thursday evening to discuss the EU’s “strong” recommendation, according to which all Chinese travelers, regardless of nationality, must present a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival in the EU.
The meeting was called after EU government health officials met on Wednesday to decide on a common approach to Covid testing of travelers arriving from China.
At that meeting, representatives recommended that member states require those arriving from China to take a Covid test no later than two days before departure. A negative test result would allow the passenger to board the plane.
It was also decided to recommend that passengers traveling to China should wear face shields.
Finland’s Minister of Family and Social Affairs Krista Kiuru (SDP) said it was concerned about China’s low vaccination rates and travelers from the country bringing new variants with them.
“The unvaccinated population combined with the widespread spread of the virus can lead to the worst strains,” Kiuru told Yle.
EU member states have also been urged to carry out random tests on arrivals from China and to test sewage at international airports and from aircraft arriving from China. Wastewater monitoring is already in use in many countries Pasi Mustonenhealth expert at the EU mission of Finland.
Member states agree to increase EU-level coordination when making decisions. However, the recommendations are not binding and member states are independently responsible for their implementation.
In China, the number of new Covid cases has risen sharply since the strict pandemic restrictions were lifted in December. The EU now fears that travelers from China could bring new variants that would circumvent the protection offered by existing vaccines.
Finland wants a common EU policy
Finnish health ministers are expected to meet on Thursday evening to discuss the EU’s recommendations.
A few countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and France, have already imposed restrictions on travelers from China.
Kiuru said earlier this week that Finland expects a common EU policy from Wednesday’s discussions. policy on Covid tests for tourists traveling mainly from China.
Concern about tourism in Lapland
“Tourists who come to Finland in the winter season mostly go to Lapland. Many Chinese tourists also go there, so preliminary testing can be a good idea,” said. Mark Broasinfectious disease doctor in Lapland’s hospital district.
“It will decide what kind of conversion base China has. If China is full of the XBB.1.5 variant, Finland should also require pre-testing of Chinese tourists,” Broas added.
The XBB.1.5 variant, which is the result of combining two different omicron variants, is highly contagious and therefore spreads rapidly around the world. For example, in the United States, about 40 percent of new infections are this variant.
The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL) has not recommended restrictions for travelers from China to Finland. In an interview with Yle at the end of December Jari JalavaTHL’s infectious disease expert pointed out that it has not been possible to prevent the spread of virus variants in the past.