The prime minister has flagged travel restrictions from China to Australia could change after the US moved to a negative COVID-19 test requirement.
The changes will come into effect from January 5. Japan, Italy, India, South Korea and Taiwan have also introduced the negative testing requirement for Chinese travellers.
In response to the US’s announcement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia’s travel advice hasn’t changed yet but health authorities are monitoring the situation.
“We’ll continue to monitor the situation, as we do right around the world, and update our advice when it’s appropriate,” he said.
“We take the health advice on this. At the moment the health advice has not changed.”
But when asked if he was open to changing the travel advice for Chinese travellers, he said if the health advice changes then so will the restrictions.
Read Related Also: Pro-euthanasia commercial gets even more creepy
”We are always open to following the health advice, which is what we do with travel to various countries,” he said.
It comes as China started loosening its strict COVID-19 measures after dismantling the long-held zero-COVID policy earlier this month.
From January 8, quarantine requirements will be dropped for international arrivals in a major step toward the country reopening its borders after three years.
But despite the easing of restrictions, COVID-19 cases have surged in China, leading other countries like the US to introduce new travel requirements.
The year in pictures: The biggest news across Australia
