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Queue at the Covid testing center at Malpensa Airport near Milan in August 2020
Photo: Maurizio Maule / imago images / Independent Photo Agency Int.
In view of the uncontrolled spread of the corona virus in China, Italy is introducing mandatory corona tests for all travelers from the Asian country.
"The measure is essential to ensure the monitoring and detection of any variants of the virus, to protect the Italian population," said Health Minister Orazio Schillaci.
The tests are antigen tests.
Since December 26, Milan's largest airport, Malpensa, had already introduced voluntary antigen testing for travelers arriving from China.
Tests for travelers on two flights from China showed that 38 and 52 percent of passengers were positive, respectively, reports the daily La Repubblica.
Italy's main airport, Rome Fiumicino, also announced a similar measure on Wednesday.
But only a few hours later came the official notification from the Ministry of Health, which makes the tests mandatory for all travelers from China.
Beware of new variants
According to Italian media reports, the Ministry of Health in Rome is particularly concerned that new variants could arise due to the rapid, uncontrolled spread of Covid-19 in China.
That is why the virus is sequenced if the results are positive, it is said.
The USA, Japan and India had previously announced similar steps.
In particular, the lack of "transparent data" from China on the extent of the corona wave triggered growing international concern.
According to US government officials, the lack of gene sequencing data makes it difficult to identify any new virus variants.
Similar moves also in India, Japan and Taiwan
The Chinese government under President and party leader Xi Jinping had said goodbye to its strict zero-Covid policy after nationwide protests.
Due to the low immunity of the population, the virus is now spreading uncontrollably.
Hundreds of millions of people are likely to have been infected by now.
The hospitals are overburdened and the health system is threatened with collapse.
There is no reliable information from the state on the number of infected people and deaths.
Also, one of the main problems is the low vaccination rate among older people, which could lead to many deaths in this age group.
According to estimates, around one million people could die in China in the coming months as a result of a corona infection.
Last Monday, Beijing also announced the end of the corona quarantine requirement for returnees from abroad, triggering a rush of Chinese people willing to travel to booking platforms.
Countries such as Japan and India then announced mandatory testing for all travelers from China.
Taiwan also announced a corresponding test requirement on Wednesday.
Japan also ordered to limit the number of flights from China.
col/Reuters/AFP
