51�Թ���

BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 30: As the European Union has not yet taken a decision on stricter rules for travelers from China, some countries have started to ask travelers from China to submit a negative COVID-19 test or prove they have been fully vaccinated. Speaking to reporters in Berlin on Friday (Dec. 30) after visiting the Charite Children's Hospital together with Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey, the German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said mandatory COVID testing is “not yet necessary” for travelers coming into Schengen area from China via Germany as the current corona variants are known. He said actual threat from new variants would not be expected at this point in time, noting that they are preparing variant monitoring at the airports. The bloc’s Health Security Committee held urgent discussions on Thursday to iron out a cohesive policy for member states, with a statement after the meeting saying that talks will continue. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the coronavirus variant, BF.7, which is dominant in China, is already in Europe. "We will remain vigilant. We are ready to take emergency measures if necessary," it said. ECDC experts said there is no need for testing those coming from China, evaluating that the disease history and immunity with vaccinations are high in Europe so an increase in cases in China will not have a big effect on Europe. The German Health Minister is pushing for a European solution.(Footage by Omer Sercan Karkus /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)