Netherlands to require Covid tests from China arrivals

FILE PHOTO: Travellers queue to board a plane at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport amid a wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections, in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China December 30, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

The Hague, Netherlands — Air passengers arriving from China will need to show a negative Covid-19 test to enter the Netherlands from next week, the Dutch health ministry said on Friday.

More than a dozen countries have slapped fresh travel regulations on travellers from the world’s most populous nation, which is facing a surge in Covid cases following its decision to relax strict virus restrictions.

The Dutch measures, which will come into force on Tuesday, are in line with European Union recommendations, the ministry said.

“I think it is important for us bring in travel restrictions as part of European anti-Covid measures,” Health Minister Ernst Kuipers said.

EU experts on Wednesday “strongly encouraged” the bloc’s 27 member states to demand Covid tests from people on flights from China and conduct random tests on arrivals.

In line with EU advice, the Dutch government urged passengers travelling to and from China to wear face masks, starting from Friday.

“The government is also studying the feasibility of analysing waste water from the toilets on flights from China,” Kuipers said.

Several other EU nations — including Germany, France, Germany, Italy and Spain — have already announced Covid test requirements on those arriving from China.

Amsterdam-Schiphol is one of Europe’s biggest airports and is a hub for numerous intercontinental flight connections.

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