Spain will require all air passengers coming from China to have negative COVID-19 tests or proof of vac🎃cination, the government said on Friday.
Health Minister Carolina Darías told reporters that Spain would be pushing for similar measures at a European level following the surge in ca🌸ses in China. She♓ said coronavirus health controls would be stepped up at Spanish airports.
Darías didn't specify 🔜when the new requirement will take effect.
Spain made the announcement after Italy said it would require coronavirus tests for airline passengers from Chi🌠na. Health officials from the 27-member European Union on Thursday promised to continue talks on seeking aꦕ common approach but held back from imposing restrictions.
“There exists a shared concern internationally and nationally over the evolution of cases in China and the d💙ifficulty to make a correct evaluation of the COVID-19 situation given the scant information that we have available,” Darías said.
Darías noted that China would be lifting travel restrictions from January 8 and there was likely to be a major increase in people travelling abroad. She said the chief concern was the possible emerg💫ence of new coronavirus variants and it was important to act fast.
The United States announced new COVID-19 testing requirements Wednesday for travelers from China, joining some Asian nations that had imposed restrictions. Japan on Friday started requiring tests for passengers arriving from China.
