Australia is concerned about the COVID cases surging in China and require a negative COVID test from 5th- Jan

Today -03 January, SBS Sinhala Radio current Affair Feature on Australia is concerned about the COVID-19 cases surging in China and require arrivals from China to undertake a pre-departure COVID-19 test from 5th of Jan

A couple fill in their health declaration via a smartphone as travelers with luggage line up at the Air Macao flight check in counter at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing on Dec. 29, 2022. Gambling haven Macao’s relaxation of border restrictions after China rolled back its "zero-COVID" strategy is widely expected to boost its tourism-driven economy. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Source: AP / Andy Wong/AP

HIGHLIGHTS

• An epidemiologist says Australia's decision to require pre-departure COVID-19 tests for travellers arriving from China is a political rather than public health decision.
• Travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao will need to show a negative test before being allowed entry into Australia from January 5.