Vigilance intensifies.

PCR tests carried out randomly since Sunday on passengers entering France from China will “allow the different variants to be tracked”, declared the Minister of Health François Braun at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport.

"This control on arrival is not a control that would prevent citizens from entering our territory, but it is a more scientific control, which will allow us to follow the different variants extremely precisely", declared to the press François Braun, accompanied by the Minister Delegate for Transport Clément Beaune.

“These are essentially Omicron variants that there are currently in China”, continued François Braun, referring to “a discussion at European level during the week to harmonize this model of care”.

From Thursday, they will also have to present a test before flying

Since Sunday, travelers from China must wear a surgical mask and they have consented beforehand to be subjected to random PCR tests upon arrival.

From Thursday, they will also have to present a negative test (PCR or antigenic) less than 48 hours before the departure of their flight.



France, like the United Kingdom, Italy or the United States, took these measures in the face of the explosion of cases of coronavirus infections in China, which lifted its restrictive measures in early December.

The measures are scheduled until January 31.

"There are six flights that come from China on a weekly basis to France, 10 if we include flights from Hong Kong," said Clément Beaune.

Chinese hospitals are overwhelmed with cases

Most passengers from China only pass through the Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport hub.

Among the 300 passengers on the Beijing-Paris flight who landed at the end of the morning, around sixty entered French territory.

All agreed to take a quick PCR test before going to collect their luggage.

Before being tested, the identity of travelers is taken by the agents of the screening center located in Terminal 2E at Roissy.

If their test is positive, they are called back and must isolate themselves for seven days, as they agreed to when they left.

Three years after the appearance of the first cases of coronavirus in Wuhan (center), China put an end to its draconian policy known as “zero Covid” on December 7.

Since the lifting of restrictions, Chinese hospitals have been overwhelmed by a surge of patients, most of them elderly, and vulnerable because they have been little or not vaccinated.

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