More and more governments are requiring passengers who were last in the People's Republic of China to present negative corona tests that are no more than 48 hours old. Mandatory tests are carried out selectively in the course of entry controls. The World Aviation Association IATA criticized the approach sharply.

Unsurprisingly, there was no agreement on a uniform approach at EU level, so the recommendation was only made that the member states should require passengers who boarded in China to submit negative corona tests and wear masks. However, this is not a binding regulation, because it is still up to the respective governments of the EU countries to decide for themselves. For example, Italy and France have already introduced or at least announced mandatory testing, and Austria wants to examine the wastewater from Chinese machines starting next week.

IATA boss Willie Walsh sharply criticizes the downright panicked reaction on the part of numerous governments: “Even though the virus is already widespread within their borders. It is extremely disappointing that these measures, which have proven ineffective over the past three years, are being knee-jerkly reinstated." He is also of the opinion that the renewed restriction on travel could have consequences for the economy and thus for jobs.

"Research conducted in connection with the arrival of the Omicron variant concluded that the imposition of travel restrictions had no impact on the peak spread of infections. The restrictions delayed this peak by a few days at most. If a new variant emerges in any part of the world, the same situation would be expected,” says Walsh, who urges governments to listen to the opinion of experts, including the WHO.