The coronavirus pandemic has reared its head again with news that travellers arriving from China will have to provide a negative test before taking off for Australia.
New arrivals will need to return a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours before landing onshore from January 5, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
It comes amid global uncertainty around Beijing’s official COVID-19 case figures.
Australia’s new stance is in line with other nations like the US, the UK, France and India..
Health Minister Mark Butler said it appeared case numbers in China were climbing “very quickly” and there were concerns about the possibility of a new variant emerging.
“In particular, the World Health Organisation has pointed to the lack of a clear global understanding of the genomic sequencing of cases in China,” he said.
An influx of arrivals from China is expected as universities return to class in early 2023.
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Thus far it remains uncertain whether a negative PCR or rapid antigen test will be required for arrivals.
Australia is coming down from a fourth wave of the virus, which experts had described as the “grandchildren of Omicron”.
The Chinese government has recently backed down from its harsh enforcement of a zero-COVID policy following mass street protests, in a rare public reversal.
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