COVID-19 Restrictions Re-Introduced for Visitors from China

On Friday 6 January 2023, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health / Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs announced that COVID-19 restrictions would be re-introduced ffrom Monday 9 January 2023 for visitors arriving from China.

The decision was taken due to the rapid progression of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections in China since December 2022; as a result, strengthening of epidemiological surveillance will be applicable from 9 January 2023 until 31 March 2023 inclusive, for all travel from the People's Republic of China to Luxembourg. This decision follows the opinion of the Health Security Committee at European Union level, published on 5 January 2023, defining a coordinated European approach, progressive in stages, and proportional to the health threat.

Anyone who has stayed in China in the 14 days preceding their arrival in Luxembourg is required to declare their presence to the Health Inspectorate (email: contact-covid@ms.etat.lu or tel: 247-65533). At random, those concerned will be invited to undergo a free detection test by amplification of the viral RNA of SARS-CoV-2 (PCR, TMA or LAMP methods). If positive, the sample is submitted to the National Health Laboratory (LNS) for sequencing and therefore determination of the viral variant/subvariant. This will make it possible to discover early the possible introduction of a new viral variant in the Grand Duchy.

This obligation applies to anyone who has stayed in China in the 14 days preceding their arrival, regardless of the duration of their stay in China and Luxembourg, and regardless of their means of transport to get to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. However, persons employed in the transport sector are exempt from it in the exercise of their functions, as are passengers in transit.

This measure complements any measures already in place at international airports in European Union countries receiving direct commercial flights from China.

At the same time, the Health Department is strengthening, together with the Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology (LIST) and the LNS, the monitoring of wastewater, particularly from Luxembourg airport. Again, this is aimed at the early detection of any possible viral variant introduced by a traveller.

The recommendations issued by the Department of Health for travelers to and from China are available online at https://covid19.public.lu/fr/voyageurs/voyager-chine.html.