Covid-19: France imposes tests and the wearing of masks on travelers from China

After Italy, France decides in turn to impose tests on all travelers from China.

Faced with an explosion in the number of cases in the country, a consequence of the abrupt end this month of the “zero Covid” policy, the French government explains that it fears an epidemic rebound on our territory, and the emergence of new variants of Covid. -19.

To fight upstream against this, three measures will have to be applied: all passengers coming from China, wishing to board a direct flight or with a stopover, will have to present the result of a negative test (PCR or antigen) less than 48 hours before departure.

France also makes it compulsory to wear a mask on direct flights from the country.

Finally, on arrival in France, PCR tests will be carried out randomly, starting on January 1.

Positive tests will be subject to sequencing “in an epidemiological surveillance framework”, to identify possible variants of the virus.

A decree will be published during the weekend, and notified to the European Union.

The people concerned “will be informed and will have undertaken, on entering French territory, to isolate themselves”, assures the government.

On the other hand, no control of compliance with isolation seems planned.

“This is not intended to authorize or not entry into the territory, but to complete the analysis with an epidemiological surveillance sample”, justifies the Ministry of Health.

3,000 people arrive every week from China in France

China's extremely drastic mandatory testing policy was halted a few days ago, leading to a major reduction in epidemiological surveillance.

“The situation in China is being watched very carefully, as it is a hugely populated country.

There will be international flows with the Chinese New Year and low immunity, because China has experienced few waves, summarizes Professor Jérôme Salomon, Director General of Health.

Vaccine immunity is also questioned.

All this means that there is a significant risk of circulation of the virus.

“For the moment, the specialists are not observing any emergence of any new variant in particular, but there are risk factors because “we are facing an atypical situation”.

The Quai d'Orsay also recommends postponing all non-essential travel to China, especially for frail and immunocompromised travelers.

These decisions go against the findings of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

On Thursday, the European health agency considered that systematic screening was "unjustified" at this stage in the EU.

According to her, health systems “are now able to manage” the disease.

Currently, about ten flights per week provide the connection between the two countries, which means that around 3,000 people arrive each week from China in France.

But, with the opening of the borders, this rate should quickly increase.