Travelers from China must initially present a negative Covid test and wear a mask during the plane journey. These controls are maintained until February 15.
Initially scheduled to last until January 31, the controls imposed in France on travelers from China have been extended until February 15 “in view of health developments”, can we read in a decree published in Official newspaper Saturday.
Tests and mask on the plane
Since the beginning of January, travelers over the age of 11 departing from China and bound for France by plane must provide a negative test on departure less than 48 hours before boarding.
“These travelers will also have to commit to undergoing a random screening campaign on their arrival on national territory and to isolate themselves in the event of a positive result”, adds the text.
The obligation to wear a mask for passengers over the age of six on board flights is also compulsory.
Dreaded new peak after Lunar New Year
At the end of 2022-early 2023, several countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and certain European states had introduced the obligation of negative tests for Covid-19 for travelers from China, citing fears linked to the explosion of the pandemic in this country of 1.4 billion inhabitants.
In China, the number of daily deaths linked to Covid-19 has fallen by almost 80% since the beginning of January according to the authorities, the sign that the last wave of contaminations which hit the country since December is starting to spread. mitigate.
But authorities later warned of a new spike in infections after the Lunar New Year, which took place on January 22 and led to mass displacement of people, which could spread the virus.
Analysts, however, believe that the death figures given by China represent only part of the real toll, given the narrow definition that Beijing has adopted for deaths attributed to Covid-19 and the infection of whole sections of Chinese population according to official estimates.
