Belgium mandates corona test for direct flights from China

Belgium will be requiring travellers on direct flights from China to present a negative Coronavirus test before departure, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke reported on Wednesday.

The federal government is thus responding to EU recommendations encouraging member States to require Covid-19 tests for travellers from China. However, it is only doing so, initially, for direct flights, which is where the risk of multiplying infections is greatest, it said. A royal decree to this effect is being prepared and could normally be published on Saturday.

Scaling up the measure remains possible, according to the Belgian authorities.
​The Swedish presidency of the European Union reported on Wednesday that the EU “strongly encourages member States” to introduce the requirement. A statement issued following a meeting of experts from the 27 member States on the issue said that they had agreed on a coordinated approach.

Coordinated EU approach

This means that all travellers on flights to and from China will be advised to wear a facemask on the plane, while member States are strongly encouraged to require travellers from China to present a negative test result prior to departure. Additionally, member States are encouraged to randomly test travellers from China upon arrival.

China is currently experiencing a major flare-up of the novel Coronavirus. However, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed on Tuesday in a new report that the variants present there are already circulating within the European Union and do not pose a particular danger to the European population, which has built up strong immunity.

Meanwhile, Saturday also marks the first time wastewater from a flight from China will be collected separately in Belgium for Coronavirus research. This is being done as a pilot project.

^{Inaugural flight Brussels Shaghai © BELGA PHOTO}