European countries join US in restricting travel from China amid COVID-19 outbreak

Spain, France and the UK are the latest among several countries to impose travel restrictions on China amid fears of a new outbreak of COVID-19.
China is facing a surge in travel as Chinese citizens look to take advantage of new opportunities to travel abroad after Beijing eased its strict COVID-19 policies. Ticket sales for flights departing from China on Tuesday morning increased 254% from the day before. The surge in tourists has sparked fear in other countries, where mostly Western leaders are concerned that travelers could bring COVID-19.
China surge: Flights in and out surge after Beijing eases COVID restrictions

Ngu Hung Guang/AP

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has approved new measures to require all travelers from mainland China to have a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country from 5 January. Financial Times. From January 8th, British authorities will randomly test travelers from China.
Health Secretary Steve Berkley defended the measures as “a balanced and preventative approach by announcing these temporary measures while we assess the data.”
France has also announced a mandatory COVID-19 negative test for all travelers from China, requiring masks to be worn even during flights to the country. He said there was no need for a limit because he thought it would be negligible.
Spain will soon require travelers from China to have either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
Click here for more information on the Washington Jury
Spain’s Health Minister Carolina Darías said: “Given the evolution of the infection in China and the lack of information currently available, we are concerned about the difficulty of assessing the situation.”
It is expected that several more EU Member States will introduce similar restrictions in the near future.
The United States announced last week that it would require travelers from China to show negative test results before boarding.