Travelers from China who arrive at Schiphol will be offered a free corona self-test from 5 January. Minister of Health Ernst Kuipers informed the Lower House of this today. In case of a positive test result, it is advised to go into isolation. After years of lockdowns and strict corona rules, the Chinese are allowed to leave the country again. KLM is seizing the relaxation to double the number of flights between Schiphol and China.
Kuipers does not go as far with voluntary self-tests and insulation advice as his counterparts in Spain and Italy. Those countries require travelers from China to have a negative test result upon arrival. Spain is also satisfied with a valid vaccination certificate.
According to Kuipers, there is not yet a legal basis in the Netherlands to force travelers from China to be tested or to be quarantined before departure. If the situation in China deteriorates, he would prefer to take those measures, but emphasizes that the Senate must first consider a bill to do so. For that reason, the minister asks parliament to hurry.
Sewer research
Kuipers has RIVM conduct more research into traces of the corona virus in the sewage water at Schiphol. China currently has a yellow travel advisory. Since the easing in the country, the spread of the virus has increased and the pressure on the healthcare system is high.
KLM
After the Chinese relaxation, KLM has announced that it will increase the number of flights between Schiphol and China from three to six times a week. Before the corona crisis, KLM flew 25 times a week to multiple destinations in China.