Only three passengers arriving in Germany test positive for COVID

Source: Schengen Visa Info

Only three passengers from China have tested positive for the Coronavirus upon their arrival to Germany since January 9, of a total of 628 random tests that have been carried out, according to a spokeswoman from Germany’s Health Department.

Based on a report of Germany Detail Zero, from 628 random tests carried out at Frankfurt Airport, 625 resulted in negative, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Authorities in China have recently faced an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, thus leading leaders in countries worldwide to consider reimposing additional requirements in order to halt another surge in the number of infection cases.

Recently, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach also announced that Germany would impose testing requirements for all passengers from China in an effort to contain the further spread of the virus.

Germany’s decision came after recently the European Union Member States agreed to recommend all bloc’s countries to impose pre-departure testing for arrivals from China and also a random testing on-arrival as a response to the increased number of infections that authorities in China are reporting.

Lauterbach considered the recommendation of the European Union a good decision.

“On this basis, we are now also changing German entry rules at short notice,” Lauterbach said.

In addition, he added that Germany’s steps are in line with the recommendation introduced by the European Union.

“Europe has found a joint response to the pandemic situation in China. This is precisely what we as the federal government have been working towards,” said Lauterbach.

However, the recommendation of the European Union was not unanimously supported.

Recently, a total of 425 airlines and airports represented by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the A4E (Airlines for Europe), and ACI EUROPE (Airports Council International), through a statement called the EU decision to impose restrictions on arrivals from China a knee-jerk reaction. In addition, the airlines and airports considered the move regrettable.

Following the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, several European countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Netherlands and Sweden have taken into consideration the recommendation of the European Union and introduced additional entry rules for arrivals from China.

The figures provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), reveal that a total of 10,939,415 COVID-19 infection cases have been reported in China up to this point, while a total of 34,121 people have died.

The same reveals that as of November 29, a total of 3,465,113,661 vaccine doses have been administered in China.

However, recently, the World Health Organization threw accusations towards authorities in China, pretending that they are not presenting the exact epidemiological situation that the country is dealing with.

In addition, Mike Ryan from WHO warned that China might be under-reporting its death and hospitalisation figures.