Italy Extends COVID-19 Tests for China Arrivals Till Feb.15

Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci announced on Monday that the government will extend the COVID restrictions for people arriving from China.

Schillaci said the obligation, which was due to expire on Tuesday, would remain in place until February 15 or until the end of next month.

Last December, Italy imposed mandatory Covid-19 tests for travellers arriving from China after the latter witnessed a hike in cases nationwide.

“I have ordered mandatory Covid-19 antigenic swabs, and related virus sequencing, for all passengers coming from China and transiting through Italy,” Schillaci noted.

The minister added: “The measure is essential to ensure surveillance and detection of possible variants of the virus in order to protect the Italian population.”

During the same period, the UK and France unveiled similar measures, with Paris calling on those coming from the Asian country to provide a negative Covid-19 test result in less than 48 hours old before departure.

British Health secretary Steve Barclay said it was right for the UK to take “a balanced and precautionary approach by announcing these temporary measures while we assess the data.”