As China doubles down on efforts to keep back the rising international tide of coronavirus cases , some of its screening and quarantine measures are being criticised as unnecessary and too strict. In addition to presenting a negative nucleic acid test result, inbound passengers have to return a negative result for IgM antibodies within 48 hours of boarding a flight to China. Clemens von Goetze, Germany’s ambassador to China, said this extra requirement in place since October 31 could hamper travel between the two countries. “We understand the need for necessary measures, but we believe any new requirements that make travel – and hence business – between our countries even more difficult should only be introduced when epidemiologically really necessary,” he said. Coronavirus: Chinese President Xi Jinping proposes global QR code system to help free up travel “China is now requiring antibody blood tests, but according to the World Health Organization , these antibody blood tests are a poor predictor of active infections.” Von Goetze said some quarantine measures were also too stringent. “Another critical point is that the Chinese regulations are mandating the isolation of infected children from their parents, which we regard to be out of proportion. The parents should be allowed to accompany the child and not leave the child alone in quarantine for 14 days or even longer in hospital,” he said. “We have conveyed our concerns to the Chinese government that the antibody tests and separation of children from parents are not necessary, but we have not received an answer yet that these rules would be changed.” China also requires all inbound passengers to spend 14 days in quarantine upon arrival. The requirements are part of national efforts to contain the pandemic, which Chinese public health officials and specialists have warned could surge in winter. In cases of local outbreak, governments have responded by locking down infected districts, carrying out mass screening, and quarantining suspected cases and their close contacts. China-EU decoupling not an option but Beijing must step up on markets, human rights, virus: German envoy More than 60 million people have been infected around the world with the coronavirus and researchers are working around the clock to develop and test vaccines. Von Goetze said China and Germany had worked together closely to fight the pandemic. Both countries have joined Covax, a global initiative to ensure equal access to safe and effective vaccines. “Both countries are heavily involved in the development of vaccines. Both of us are at the forefront of medical research on development of new vaccines,” he said.