Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach currently considers mandatory tests when entering China from China to be "not yet necessary". As a central measure, however, close "variant monitoring" is being prepared at European airports, said the SPD politician on Friday in Berlin. "In addition, I think it is very important that Europe reacts in a coordinated manner," said Lauterbach.

Spain and Italy have already introduced or announced entry restrictions for travelers from China. The EU is also considering further measures. Consultations on this took place on Thursday at EU level. EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides then called on the states to review their national surveillance measures for the virus and, if necessary, to ramp them up again. A crisis meeting on how to proceed is expected to take place next week.

Exchange with Paris on the current situation

Lauterbach said that at this point in time, a threat from new variants is not to be expected. So far, already known variants have appeared. In the afternoon he would "discuss the matter very intensively" with the French Minister of Health.

"We need very precise "variant monitoring" because we cannot reliably retrieve this variant monitoring from China," said the minister. "The targeted review of individual flight sequences, for example, could also play a role here, which is being prepared." But there is no reason for an "antigen test on a routine basis".