France, Spain, South Korea & Israel joins countries imposing Covid tests on travellers from China

France, Spain, South Korea and Israel have joined countries imposing Covid tests on travellers from China, after Beijing's decision to relax its zero-Covid policy. 

China is easing travel restrictions that it had since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic despite a surge in cases. China has said it will fully reopen its borders on the 8th of January. Beijing's move prompted the US, Italy, Japan, India, Malaysia, and Taiwan to impose checks on arrivals from China.

 

The French health ministry said France will require that travellers arriving from China provide a negative COVID-19 test result less than 48 hours old before departure. The test will be required on



direct flights from China and flights with stopovers.

 

The UK is also set to announce that passengers coming from China will have to provide a negative Covid test before they travel to Britain. While the announcement has not yet been formally made, the UK defence secretary confirmed that it is reviewing the need for testing for passengers from China.

While announcing to require COVID tests for passengers from China, Spain's Health Minister Carolina Darías said, it will be pushing for similar measures at a European level.

 

However, EU countries have not yet agreed to a unified approach for travel rules.