EU recommends pre-flight testing for passengers from China, Estonia focuses on surveillance and sequencing

EU recommends pre-flight testing for passengers from China, Estonia focuses on surveillance and sequencing
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The Baltic Times: According to the joint conclusions and recommendations adopted by the member states, it is recommended that passengers wear a medical or FFP2/N95/KN95 type mask when traveling to and from China. Additional personal hygiene and health safety advice will be provided to staff and passengers on international flights involving China.

It is strongly encouraged to introduce a requirement for all travelers from China to member states to present a negative pre-flight coronavirus test result, taken no earlier than 48 hours before departure from China. These measures are supported by monitoring and sequencing of virus strains in member states. These might include random testing of travelers arriving from China for the coronavirus. Samples that test positive are sequenced to determine the virus strain. Monitoring and sequencing of wastewater will be carried out both from the wastewater of aircraft arriving from China and at international airports.

Deputy secretary general at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs for health policy Heidi Alasepp said that, on the Estonian side, the coordination and performance of monitoring and sequencing of virus strains is carried out by the Health Board. The Health Board will start sequencing wastewater this week in cooperation with the University of Tartu. This week's results will be announced in the new week.