The airport stated on Wednesday (Jan 11) there was “no scientific foundation” for reintroducing a pre-departure testing requirement for Chinese language arrivals after the nation reopened its borders on Sunday (Jan eight).
Chinese language arrivals at Heathrow, particularly, are topic to enhanced surveillance by the UK’s Well being Security Company, which is conducting random Covid exams, albeit on a voluntary foundation, for brand new variants of Covid-19. which will have developed in China throughout its strict border closure.
“We’re involved that the restoration of the aviation sector, which is crucial to the financial system, could possibly be set again by the reintroduction of traveler testing within the UK and elsewhere in response to rising covid ranges in China, to regardless of governments acknowledging that there isn’t any scientific foundation for doing so,” Heathrow stated.
Each the World Well being Group and the European Middle for Illness Prevention and Management have questioned the push to introduce testing necessities for vacationers from China, highlighting how journey restrictions have, so far, had restricted impact. within the unfold of Covid.