Travelers from the People’s Republic of China no longer have to show a negative PCR test before leaving for Austria. The corresponding change to the entry regulations was announced by the Ministry of Health on Monday and will take effect on Wednesday. Analyzes of the wastewater from incoming aircraft have so far not shown any new virus variants.
Austria follows the example of several European countries by lifting the PCR test requirement for travelers from China.
Most of them had lifted the test requirement for travelers from China in February. The taking of samples from the sewage tanks of aircraft from China will continue beyond March 1, the health ministry said. An adjustment of the interval is currently being considered.
Zero Covid policy lifted in China
Following the lifting of China’s zero-Covid policy, sampling from aircraft should ensure rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants previously unknown in Europe. In the samples of recent weeks, no abnormalities have been found with regard to new virus variants, the ministry reports in a broadcast on Monday.
By order of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, samples from 48 strategically selected sewage treatment plants in Austria would also be continued on a permanent basis. They would be analyzed by the National Reference Center for SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Monitoring in Austria. Here, too, new virus variants could be found quickly. The program covers about 58 percent of the Austrian population.
Health Minister Johannes Rauch said: “After a few weeks of careful checks, we can now authorize entry from China. We will take the samples from aircraft a little further. The wastewater monitoring gives us a good overview of the virus load and the prevailing virus variants. ”
According to the ministry, the information from the national wastewater monitoring system will continue to be an important pillar for the evaluation of the general epidemiological situation in Austria.
Source: Krone
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