While the number of positive Covid-19 cases is exploding in China, several countries such as Italy and the United States have announced that they will impose a screening test on all travelers coming from China when entering their territory.
The protective measures taken by other countries in the face of the Covid outbreak in China are “understandable” in view of the lack of information provided by Beijing, said Thursday the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros. Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“In the absence of complete information from China, it is understandable that countries are taking the actions they believe will protect their people,” he said on Twitter.
“In order to be able to carry out a full risk assessment of the Covid-19 situation in China, WHO needs more detailed information,” he wrote.
The statements come after the United States joined other countries, including Japan and Italy, in imposing testing on travelers from China, following Beijing’s abandonment of restriction measures. travel abroad despite an upsurge in cases.
No consensus yet
However, earlier in the day, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) considered that the introduction of these health measures was “unjustified”.
“We are concerned about the development of the situation” (in China) “and we continue to encourage China to track down the virus and vaccinate those most at risk”, added the head of the WHO.
Chinese hospitals are overwhelmed by high numbers of infections after Beijing’s decision to lift strict rules that had long stemmed the spread of the pandemic, but had plunged the economy and sparked protests within the community. population.
Chinese authorities said this week they were ending mandatory quarantine on arrival in China, prompting many Chinese to plan to travel abroad.
