The imposition of covid tests on travelers from China by an increasing number of countries is an “impulsive” and “ineffective” response, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Wednesday (4).
“Several countries are introducing covid-19 testing and other measures for travelers from China, even though the virus is already circulating widely within their borders. It is extremely disappointing to see the impulsive reintroduction of measures that have proven ineffective over these three years,” estimated Willie Walsh, IATA director general, quoted in a statement.
Also read: China says it shared data on Covid-19 outbreaks responsibly
China considered on Tuesday (3) “unacceptable” that a dozen countries have imposed such measures, including the United States, Australia, Italy and France, claiming they have no “scientific basis.”
According to IATA, studies have shown that “placing obstacles on travelers has not changed anything in the peak spread of infections.”
“If anything, the restrictions delayed that peak a few days,” it added.
Three years after the pandemic began, the aviation industry has, according to the organization, the “necessary tools” to tackle the virus “without resorting to ineffective measures that disrupt international travel, damage economies and destroy jobs.”
Also read: China insists official Covid data is transparent: state media
World air traffic was expected to reach 70.6% of its 2019 level by 2022, but stood at 44.3% in the Asia-Pacific region, mainly due to the “zero covid” policy imposed in China, IATA estimated in early December.
