01/01/2023 1:29 pm (act. 01/01/2023 1:29 pm)
The corona situation in China worries many countries ©APA/AFP
Concern about the massive corona wave in China is growing: after several other countries, Australia and Canada also announced negative corona tests on Sunday as a prerequisite for entering the country. Both countries cited the rapidly rising number of Covid cases in the People’s Republic as the reason. So far, Austria has waived these travel restrictions. Next week, EU states want to discuss a common strategy.
The Australian government cited China’s “lack of comprehensive information” as the reason for requiring the corona test. The regulation, which takes effect on Jan. 5, aims to protect Australia “from the risk of possible new variants”, Health Minister Mark Butler said.
The Canadian government also complained about “limited” data on Covid cases in China. In addition to negative corona tests, wastewater from all international flights landing in Vancouver or Toronto must also be checked for new Covid variants.
Beijing, in a radical about-face, moved away from its strict Covid-zero policy in early December and subsequently lifted most of the corona restrictions. The number of corona infections in China has been huge for weeks. A few days ago, Beijing also announced the end of the quarantine requirement for returnees from abroad, triggering a scramble for plane tickets to travel abroad.
More than a dozen countries have ordered mandatory corona tests for travelers arriving from China in recent days, including EU members France, Italy and Spain, as well as Britain, the US, Israel and South Korea.
Morocco took a step forward on Saturday: starting January 3, travelers “regardless of nationality” departing from China could no longer enter the country, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. A new wave of infections in Morocco with the corona virus “with all its consequences” must be avoided.
The World Health Organization (WHO) urged China to be more transparent about the corona wave at a meeting with country representatives on Friday. The WHO “again called for the regular sharing of specific real-time data on the epidemiological situation,” the organization said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin rejected claims that his country was not providing enough data. “Since the beginning of the epidemic, China has shared relevant information and data with the international community, including the WHO, in an open and transparent manner,” he said on Friday.
The WHO shows understanding for the corona test obligation for travelers to China in several countries – unlike the European branch of the umbrella organization of airport operators ACI. The association, which represents more than 500 airports in 55 European countries, criticized the restrictions as “scientifically unjustified” and “uncoordinated”.
Some of China’s biggest cities already appear to be recovering from the wave of infections. But smaller towns and under-resourced rural areas are particularly hard hit by the rapid rise in infections.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen pledged on Sunday that she was willing to provide “necessary assistance based on humanitarian concerns”. However, she did not cite the possible support in more detail. Beijing considers the island, divided since 1949, a breakaway territory.
Despite the tense situation in his country, Chinese President Xi Jinping was full of optimism in his New Year speech: “The light of hope is right before us,” Xi said in a televised speech on Saturday. Corona prevention and control measures are entering a “new phase”.
As of Sunday, China has reported more than 5,100 new infections and one death related to Covid-19. However, the actual numbers are likely to be significantly higher.