NEW RESEARCH SHOWS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IN THE EU HAVE LITTLE OR NO IMPACT ON THE SPREAD OF OMICRON

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH CONDUCTED in Finland and Italy provides insight for developing a Europe-wide policy for removing restrictions. e research made public today con rms the validity of the traveller-centric approach, highlighting the ine ciency of recent travel restrictions imposed by European countries in mitigating the risks to public health and society posed by Covid-19. New analysis produced by Oxera and Edge Health reveals that pre-departure testing requirements are likely to be ine ective at stopping or even limiting the spread of the Omicron variant. e analysis of testing restrictions imposed by Italy and Finland on December 16 and December 28, 2021 respectively on all incoming travellers made no distinguishable di erence to transmission of Omicron cases in those countries. reopen.europa.eu