By Leon Moleman and Robbert van der Linde
Jan 10, 2023 at 8:52 PM Update: 4 hours ago
Since today, travelers coming to the Netherlands from China must submit a negative corona test. We received many questions about this measure on our response platform NUjij. Some readers fear that this could lead to new, strict measures here. There is no question of that: in the Netherlands we have nothing to fear for the time being thanks to the built-up immunity. The measures are mainly intended to monitor the developments of the virus in China.
What exactly are the rules for travelers from China?
Since Tuesday, January 10, people flying from China to the Netherlands must submit a negative test result before boarding the plane. This may be a simple rapid test, but the test may not be more than 48 hours old upon departure.
Travelers are reminded by airlines of the mandatory test before departure. Travelers are also advised that they can be refused if they do not have a negative test certificate. The GGD checks the tests upon arrival in the Netherlands. The Marechaussee is responsible for enforcement and can impose fines on people without proof of testing.
In addition to the mandatory test, travelers are strongly advised to wear a medical mouth mask during the flight. In addition, the sewage water around Schiphol is examined for virus particles. Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health) is investigating whether it is also possible to examine the toilet water of aircraft from China for new variants.
Do other European countries have the same measures as the Netherlands?
Yes, within the European Union. After several countries took measures against travelers from China on their own, virologists already said that a joint European approach was needed. Last week, the EU member states agreed on some precautionary measures. However, EU member states were given the freedom to deviate from this. Some countries have therefore strongly advised against travel to China.
Does the test obligation for travelers from China make sense?
In the Netherlands, we generally no longer have to worry about an infection. The immunity built up here is much greater than in China, because many people have been vaccinated or have recovered from an infection. Doctor-microbiologist Andreas Voss therefore thinks it is mainly symbolic politics, he tells NU.nl.
“I see it mainly as a way to prevent all European countries from having different policies. The Netherlands wants to appear unambiguous. But you cannot stop the introduction of viruses with a measure like this. Travelers can enter and travel through Europe in other ways.”
According to Voss, the Netherlands mainly wants to create attention for the corona problem. “With the test certificate you prevent people who are really sick from boarding the plane. So you prevent a few infections, but it will come to the Netherlands anyway.”
Does the testing obligation contribute to keeping an eye on new variants?
As in the Netherlands, the relatively mild omikron variant of the corona virus is dominant in China. But it is always possible that a new variant emerges, which behaves differently than the variants we have here now. Due to the current corona wave and the large population in China, that chance is greater. Nevertheless, according to Voss, mandatory testing does not contribute much to the search for new variants.
“There is always a chance that a coronavirus variant will arise. If it appears in China, then you know that one new variant is circulating there anyway. The problem is: you don’t know what else is happening in China. You don’t know how many others there go around.”
The latter is because there is a lot of doubt about the data shared by the Chinese government. Virologist Marion Koopmans told NU.nl “it seems that we will not get good information about the actual size in China”. Belgian virologist Steven Van Gucht already said that the testing obligation is also intended “to check whether the data we officially receive from China is correct”.
“The only way to open up about variants is to talk about them on a political level,” says Voss. “The numbers we are seeing now make it seem as if the situation in the UMCG is worse than in China. The data provides us with information about variants, but also answers the question of whether and how we can help China.”
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How long will the measures apply?
That is not known yet. The EU health ministers agreed last week to review whether the measures are necessary on a weekly basis. Voss does not think it makes sense to maintain the measure for long.
“A virus mutation can also come our way from Italy, France or Germany. Of course, it is more likely that it will come here from China, because of the corona wave and the large population, but you cannot prevent it.”
The Netherlands and other EU countries probably first want to be sure that the corona situation in China is under control. Koopmans predicted in conversation with NU.nl that the corona wave that China is now experiencing will be less bad than the first wave in the Netherlands in 2020.
Image: ANP
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