Chinese travellers heading to Australia must now take a COVID-19 test in the 48 hours before they depart because of limited information about China's infections with an expert claiming the requirement should stay for 'at least a month'.
Health Minister Mark Butler announced arrivals from China would be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test in the 48 hours before the travel Down Under on Sunday.
“The current situation is that China, having had zero COVID, is not very immune selective it’s not very pushing of new mutants,” he said. Chinese travellers must get a negative COVID-19 test in the 48 hours before they arrive in Australia. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images Professor Booy said large gatherings and the increased travel for the New Year’s celebrations could see infections spread much faster in a short amount of time.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Chief Medical Officer says no 'sufficient public health rationale' for COVID testing of Chinese travellersChief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has told the government he sees no need to impose restrictions on travellers from China but is still monitoring the situation.
Read more »
Government dismisses Chinese threats over COVID-19 travel testsFrom Thursday, travellers from China will be forced to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test before making the journey to Australia — a move that has sparked anger from Beijing.
Read more »
Australia’s COVID-19 testing of Chinese updates LIVE: Treasurer Jim Chalmers not worried about China retaliation for COVID-19 testsTreasurer Jim Chalmers said COVID-19 testing is not an onerous requirement; Beijing threatens retaliation for COVID-19 tests; NSW coal-fired power stations will reportedly receive $500 million for projected losses from Labor’s energy plan. Follow updates here
Read more »
Australia COVID-19 updates LIVE: Mark Butler addresses move to not follow Paul Kelly’s adviceHealth Minister Mark Butler rejected Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly’s advice to not screen Chinese travellers for COVID-19 due to WHO; Kelly and other health experts said there was no practical health rationale for the move. Follow updates here.
Read more »
Five things Australia has wrong on China and COVID-19For a start, it’s nonsense that Beijing is hiding the true extent of infections across the country, writes China’s consul general in Sydney, writes China’s consul general Zhou Limin.
Read more »
'Unique' mix of COVID variants in Australia a challenge for antiviral treatments, study findsA 'uniquely Australian' mix of variants will make treating severe COVID-19 more challenging, according to new research, with fewer effective drugs against new evasive strains of the virus.
Read more »