Europe health officials oppose restrictions on China travel

India has ramped up its surveillance against Covid-19 and keeping a close watch on the pandemic ahead of New Year. Amid reports of Covid surge across the globe, especially in China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore, the Centre has mandated negative RT-PCR test report for international passengers landing in India from those six countries.

Experts have predicted a rise in Covid cases in India in the next 40 days based on previous trends and urged to stay on alert. The current surge in cases driven by the latest sub-variant of Omicron, BF.7, is considered to be less severe even if it has the capacity to create a wave.

Its transmissibility is high, however, the Union health ministry believes the number of deaths and hospitalisation caused by this variant will be low. Experts have also assured that India’s Covid-19 scenario will not worsen like that of China.

Meanwhile, nationwide mock drills at hospitals and health care facilities occurred on Tuesday, with Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya visiting Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. He also held a meeting with

members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) wherein doctors and medical experts urged to let people get administered with second booster shot. However, official data has revealed that a large population of the country is yet to take the booster dose.

European health officials called screenings and restrictions on travelers from China unjustified, a stark contrast to the growing number of countries calling for tougher measures.

Europeans have high levels of protection against Covid-19, and health systems on the continent can handle the current load of infections, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Thursday, reported BloombergBritain reviewing China arrivals policy after COVID surge – minister

Britain is reviewing whether to impose restrictions on people arriving from China after a surge in COVID infections there, but has no current plans to do so, officials said on Thursday.

Defence minister Ben Wallace told reporters a further update was possible in the coming days, but another minister said that a review of evidence so far did not suggest any concerning new variant that would lead the government to impose restrictions, reported Reuters.

Moves by several countries to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new variants could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak — and that the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough, reported AP.Health min holds meet with drug manufacturers on Covid management

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya is holding a virtual meeting with drug manufacturing pharma companies for advance preparedness for Covid-19 management, said Official sources, reported ANI.RT-PCR test must for flyers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand from Jan 1, says health minister

RT-PCR test made mandatory for flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from 1st January 2023. They will have to upload their reports on the Air Suvidha portal before travel: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

European stock markets opened lower Thursday, mirroring Asian losses, as investors fretted over China’s latest Covid surge. (AFP)Chinese stocks declined as traders fret the nation’s outbreak may derail a much-awaited economic recovery at home and abroad. (Bloomberg)

Hong Kong stocks closed lower on Thursday, tracking losses across the region, with markets impacted by a Covid surge in China darkening investor outlook. (AFPAirlines give lukewarm response to China’s border reopening

The world’s airlines are taking a cautious approach to China’s reopening, reluctant to immediately change up schedules and divert planes from other routes despite the internal pent-up demand for international travel. Read moreGovernment closely monitoring exports of masks, medicines: Report

The government has started close monitoring of exports of products used to deal with Covid infections such as PPE kits, masks, ventilators and certain medicines like paracetamol on account of rising infections in various countries, including China, an official said. (PTI)