China travelers: The obligation to test is actionism

The now announced compulsory corona test for travelers from China could be justified for precisely one reason: there is currently no precise information about the infection process in China.

Its extent cannot be estimated.

And more importantly: It is unknown whether new, possibly dangerous sub-variants have developed in China or whether the omicron variant, which is widespread in Europe, also predominates.

The results of the tests carried out in China before departure allow certain conclusions to be drawn about the number of infections.

The results of additional random testing at EU airports should ideally provide information on the variants prevalent in China, especially if the viruses detected are sequenced.

An examination of the waste water from aircraft arriving from China also serves this purpose.

However, it is doubtful that the progress in knowledge that can hopefully be achieved justifies the introduction of tests in the form now planned.

This is not only true because of the considerable effort involved.

It also applies because the spread of the Chinese virus in Europe can at best be slowed down, but not prevented.

These have already arrived in Europe.

In addition, the obligation to test leaves loopholes, for example because only direct flights can be checked in the EU, but a significant proportion of travelers from China enter via third countries - such as the Gulf States or Turkey.

There are also doubts about the proportionality of the obligation to test because Corona is now considered endemic.

As long as Chinese Covid variants are the same as in Europe, it is not a problem if they are "brought in".

In order to determine whether there are new variants in China, there is no need for general testing.

Sample tests and the wastewater analysis are sufficient for this.

Anyone who introduces the obligation to test is therefore suspected of activism.

There is only one way to dispel this suspicion: the EU states must very soon check whether the obligation to test is of any use - and then abolish it as soon as possible.