Portugal will start testing Covid-19 for those arriving from China
Portugal will start testing Covid-19, at random, on passengers arriving from China. The news was initially advanced by SIC Notícias, and confirmed by DN with a source from the Ministry of Health.
However, the envious Ministry is a communicator, where it is explained that “from 0.00 on January 7, 2023, passengers on flights from China will be subject to random testing, but on a mandatory basis” to screen for the variants in circulation.
According to the note, “the test will already be applied to passengers on the flight from China that lands this Saturday, January 7, in Lisbon”.
Furthermore, it is mentioned that “Wastewater monitoring instruments will be applied at Humberto Delgado International Airport, in Lisbon and on aircraft coming from China, with a view to identifying the SARS-CoV-2 virus and subsequent genomic sequencing.”
On the direct flight to Hangzhou, which leaves Lisbon on the 8th, Sunday, passengers will already have to submit a negative test — PCR or antigen — carried out within a maximum period of 48 hours.
The Ministry of Health also explains that, in addition to airlines being “responsible for complying with the measure on boarding”, passengers and crew on flights to and from China “must wear a mask during the flight and reinforce safety measures hygiene, namely hand washing and disinfection.”
After several Member States of the European Union have applied measures to detect and mitigate covid-19 to those coming from China, the Ministry of Health also refers that “Portugal continues to monitor compliance with the measures in the context of the European Union and taking into account account the permanent exchange of information with other Member States and with international health organizations”.