- Unlike many EU countries, Switzerland is initially waiving a corona test requirement for travelers from China.
- Instead, these people are advised to wear a mask and follow other hygiene measures.
- This was decided by the Federal Council at its weekly meeting. But he wants to continue to monitor the situation.
After a long break, an Air China plane will land at Geneva Airport again on January 26th. Although passengers are encouraged to wear a mask on the flight, they do not have to be tested. The Federal Council and the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) do not want to introduce any mandatory testing for travelers from China for the time being.
Although China is going through a strong Covid 19 wave, the Swiss population is not particularly endangered by Chinese travelers, says Simon Ming from the BAG: “Many people in Switzerland have had Covid disease or have been vaccinated and therefore have a high level of protection before a difficult course. »
According to the BAG and the Federal Council, omicron variants in particular are circulating in China. These are already widespread in Switzerland or are already declining again.
“No increased risk to health care”
The virus circulates so heavily in Switzerland that a few flight passengers from China would hardly have an impact on the spread, says Ming: “We therefore do not assume that the current infection process in China poses an increased risk to the Swiss population or the health system represents.”
According to the BAG, the risk of new, worrying variants emerging in China is no higher than in other countries. The EU recently recommended that its member states introduce mandatory testing. Some politicians in Switzerland also called for this.
Infectiologist supports Federal Council decision
But for the infectiologist Huldrych Günthard from the University Hospital Zurich, the reluctance makes sense. From a virological point of view, tests would not help. But: “One could perhaps have made a targeted monitoring of waste water from the planes. Because a massive wave of infections is currently going through China.” According to the Federal Council, the waste water from the airport regions and from important tourist regions is included in the waste water monitoring.
The only effective measure is vaccination, emphasizes Günthard. The travelers should be vaccinated three times: “Then you would most likely not have people who enter the country and then become seriously ill.” There would also be no burden on the healthcare system.
The Federal Council and BAG want to continue to monitor the situation and are also looking at the EU. According to the BAG, they will review their recommendation again in mid-January.