The pre-departure testing requirements for international travellers are set to be scrapped within weeks, Health Minister GregHuntMP has confirmed. auspol COVID19 7NEWS
On Friday, Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed he will not be renewing thebiosecurity orders beyond April 17, meaning from that date travellers will no longer need to show a negative test result in order to board a flight to Australia.
Travellers must still provide proof of double vaccination and wear masks on all domestic and international flights under non-emergency provisions.“The country is ready to move on from the emergency declaration made two years and one month ago,” Mr Hunt told reporters. Currently, a PCR swab taken within three days of a flight or a rapid antigen test no more than 24 hours prior to take-off is required.The current biosecurity order is due to lapse on April 17, aligning with international cruise ships returning to Australian waters for the first time since March 2020 and the end to emergency powers.
Previously, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the removal of pre-departure testing was an important milestone for Australia. “While we’re never complacent about the challenges COVID can present and new variants, we’re watching all of those closely as we keep looking through that windscreen,” he told reporters.