<p>France and Spain will implement tougher Covid-19 measures for passengers arriving from China, authorities said on Friday.</p>.<p>France's government is requiring negative tests, and is urging French citizens to avoid nonessential travel to China. France is also reintroducing mask requirements on flights from China to France.</p>.<p>French health authorities will carry out random PCR tests at airports on passengers arriving from China to identify potential new coronavirus variants.</p>.<p>France and Spain said they would continue to push for a Europe-wide policy.</p>.<p>France's hospitals have struggled in recent weeks with a large number of patients because of three concurrent outbreaks: the seasonal flu, a wave of bronchitis cases and Covid-19.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/indonesia-lifts-covid-19-curbs-as-cases-ease-1176575.html" target="_blank">Indonesia lifts Covid-19 curbs as cases ease</a></strong></p>.<p>Earlier, Spain's government said it would require all air passengers coming from China to have negative tests or proof of vaccination.</p>.<p>Health Minister Carolina Darías told reporters that Spain would be pushing for similar measures at a European level following the surge in cases in China. She said coronavirus health controls would be stepped up at Spanish airports.</p>.<p>Darías didn't specify when the new requirement would take effect.</p>.<p>Spain made the announcement after Italy said it would require coronavirus tests for airline passengers from China.</p>.<p>Health officials from the 27-member European Union on Thursday promised to continue talks on seeking a common approach but held back from imposing restrictions.</p>.<p>“There exists a shared concern internationally and nationally over the evolution of cases in China and the difficulty to make a correct evaluation of the Covid-19 situation given the scant information that we have available,” Darías said.</p>.<p>Darías noted that China would be lifting travel restrictions from January 8 and there was likely to be a major increase in people travelling abroad.</p>.<p>She said the chief concern was the possible emergence of new coronavirus variants and it was important to act fast.</p>.<p>The United States announced new Covid-19 testing requirements Wednesday for travellers from China, joining some Asian nations that had imposed restrictions. Japan on Friday started requiring tests for passengers arriving from China.</p>
<p>France and Spain will implement tougher Covid-19 measures for passengers arriving from China, authorities said on Friday.</p>.<p>France's government is requiring negative tests, and is urging French citizens to avoid nonessential travel to China. France is also reintroducing mask requirements on flights from China to France.</p>.<p>French health authorities will carry out random PCR tests at airports on passengers arriving from China to identify potential new coronavirus variants.</p>.<p>France and Spain said they would continue to push for a Europe-wide policy.</p>.<p>France's hospitals have struggled in recent weeks with a large number of patients because of three concurrent outbreaks: the seasonal flu, a wave of bronchitis cases and Covid-19.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/indonesia-lifts-covid-19-curbs-as-cases-ease-1176575.html" target="_blank">Indonesia lifts Covid-19 curbs as cases ease</a></strong></p>.<p>Earlier, Spain's government said it would require all air passengers coming from China to have negative tests or proof of vaccination.</p>.<p>Health Minister Carolina Darías told reporters that Spain would be pushing for similar measures at a European level following the surge in cases in China. She said coronavirus health controls would be stepped up at Spanish airports.</p>.<p>Darías didn't specify when the new requirement would take effect.</p>.<p>Spain made the announcement after Italy said it would require coronavirus tests for airline passengers from China.</p>.<p>Health officials from the 27-member European Union on Thursday promised to continue talks on seeking a common approach but held back from imposing restrictions.</p>.<p>“There exists a shared concern internationally and nationally over the evolution of cases in China and the difficulty to make a correct evaluation of the Covid-19 situation given the scant information that we have available,” Darías said.</p>.<p>Darías noted that China would be lifting travel restrictions from January 8 and there was likely to be a major increase in people travelling abroad.</p>.<p>She said the chief concern was the possible emergence of new coronavirus variants and it was important to act fast.</p>.<p>The United States announced new Covid-19 testing requirements Wednesday for travellers from China, joining some Asian nations that had imposed restrictions. Japan on Friday started requiring tests for passengers arriving from China.</p>