After the “Zero Covid” policy suddenly ended in China this month, a huge increase in the number of corona infections was recorded in China, which raises the concern of a number of countries about the possibility of the spread of new variants of the virus from the Asian country.
The European Commission called for a meeting Thursday to discuss the adoption of “possible measures for a coordinated approach” among the bloc’s member states in the face of the huge rise in the number of Covid-19 infections in China.
“In light of the epidemic situation in China,” a spokeswoman for the European Commission told AFP, the executive branch will convene a meeting of the commission, which includes representatives of the health ministries of the 27 member states, on Thursday morning.
Possibility of spreading new variants of the virus
The source added that the aim of the meeting is to hold a “discussion with EU member states and European (health) agencies of possible measures for a coordinated European approach.”
After suddenly ending the “zero Covid” policy in China during the current month, a huge increase in the number of Corona infections was recorded in China, which raises the concern of a number of countries about the possibility of the spread of new variants of the virus from the Asian country.
On Wednesday, Italy decided to impose compulsory tests on all travelers coming from China. It is a measure imposed by Japan and adopted by the United States on Wednesday. Other countries in the union are still waiting.
Overcrowded hospitals in China
Hospitals and crematoriums in China are experiencing overcrowding due to the outbreak of the Corona virus, while video footage shows ambulances carrying patients and people with Covid to Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai.
China, after abruptly rescinding its zero-COVID policy, stopped mass testing and prolonged lockdown and quarantine measures, and authorities reclassified COVID-19 as a Class B infectious disease, allowing authorities to ease surveillance measures. China’s National Health Commission said last week that it would no longer release an official tally of daily Covid deaths.
Possibility to reintroduce restrictive measures in a “coordinated manner”
French President Emmanuel Macron asked the government to “take appropriate measures to protect” his French citizens. For its part, the government confirms that it is “following the development of the situation in China very carefully.”
Paris says it is “ready to study all useful measures that can be implemented as a result, in cooperation with France’s European partners and within the legal framework that exists today”.
It is assumed that the European Commission seeks to prevent some member states of the European Union from moving on its own by imposing restrictions on its borders without consultation, as happened at the beginning of the pandemic in the spring of 2020.
The 27 countries agreed to lift all restrictions on entry into the EU for travelers from third countries and return to a pre-pandemic situation at the beginning of December on the recommendation of the Commission. However, it maintained the possibility of re-applying restrictive measures in a “coordinated manner” if the epidemiological situation required it.
A spokeswoman for the Commission said, “The mutant + Omicron PF7, which is predominant in China, is present in Europe and has not recorded a significant increase,” stressing at the same time, “We remain vigilant and ready to use emergency brakes if necessary.”
