Australia said on Sunday that travellers from China would have to provide a negative COVID-19 test result from January 5, joining a growing number of nations that have implemented similar restrictions as cases surge in China.
Citing a lack of epidemiological information and genomic sequencing data from China, Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said the government had taken the precautionary decision to require visitors to submit a negative test within 48 hours of their departure.
This requirement will also apply to visitors from Hong Kong and Macau.
The government is also considering additional measures, including testing of wastewater from aeroplanes and voluntary sampling at airports, Butler told a news conference.
Butler said, “I want to emphasize that the government welcomes the resumption of travel between Australia and China… I also want to emphasize that this is a temporary measure, subject to the situation in China.” Shows a lack of comprehensive information about.”
The World Health Organization on Friday once again urged China’s health authorities to regularly share specific and real-time information on the status of COVID-19 in the country, as it continues to assess the latest surge in infections.
