Belgium tests wastewater on passenger planes from China affected by coronavirus

Brussels: Belgium will test wastewater from planes arriving from China for new COVID variants as part of new steps against the spread of the coronavirus amid a surge in infections in China, the government has announced.

“This will serve as an additional oversight objective to ensure that the data received from China is accurate,” said Steven Van Gucci of the Scienceno National Public Health Institute on Monday (Brussels time) to Reuters. told to

He said Belgium was aware that some COVID-infected passengers might not use the restroom during the flight, so the new measures were “not to track people, but to keep track of what’s going on in China.” It is intended to track individual dolphins,” he said.

Belgium wants Travelers from China Testing for COVID-19 will be done if symptoms appear 7 days after arrival, but this action will not be enforced.

At a press conference announcing the new measures, Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroek said a European Union-wide policy was needed against China’s COVID surge.

EU health officials will meet on Wednesday on a coordinated response.

Authorities around the world are imposing or considering restrictions on travelers from China, including mandating COVID testing, as infections spread in China following the easing of Beijing’s ‘zero COVID’ rule. increase.

Reuters