>
Australia and Canada have joined a growing list of countries imposing Covid tests on Chinese travelers as the country battles a nationwide outbreak after abruptly abandoning strict lockdown restrictions.
Australian health authorities said on Sunday that, from January 5, all air passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau will be required to show a negative covid test within two days of departure.
Canadian authorities announced in a statement on Saturday that similar measures would also take effect on January 5.
Australia and Canada follow other countries, including the US, UK, India, Japan and several European nations, in imposing stricter Covid measures on Chinese travelers amid concerns over a lack of data on infections in China. and fears about the possibility of new variants spreading.
A passenger on a flight from Beijing leaves the terminal after landing at the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas de Barajas airport, on the outskirts of Madrid, on December 31, 2022.
Covid-19 patients lay in beds at the Tangshan Gongren Hospital in the northeast China city of Tangshan on December 30, 2022.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler said the change was made out of “an abundance of caution” and the “lack of full information” coming from China.
“The decision to implement these temporary measures was made out of an abundance of caution, taking into account the dynamic and evolving situation in China and the potential for new variants to emerge in a high-transmission environment,” Butler said.
China, which for most of the pandemic adopted a ‘covid zero’ strategy that imposed tough restrictions aimed at eradicating the virus, abruptly eased those measures in December.
Chinese authorities previously said that as of January 8, foreign travelers will no longer need to quarantine upon arrival in China, paving the way for Chinese residents to travel.
Scientific advisers have said that mandatory testing of arrivals from China will not make much of a difference to the UK and have said it is not a priority.
With high rates of immunity due to widespread vaccine rollout and previous infections, and small numbers likely to arrive from the country, epidemiologists have little concern.
But the UK, Australia and Canada have chosen to follow in the footsteps of the US, India, Japan, Italy and several other nations by imposing mandatory tests for Chinese travelers.
A medical worker in a protective suit records information for a patient at the entrance of the fever clinic of Wuhan Central Hospital, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, 31 December 2022
Scientific advisers have said that mandatory testing of arrivals from China will not make much of a difference to the UK and have said it is not a priority. Pictured: Masked travelers check in at the Beijing Capital International Airport on December 29, 2022.
This image shows patients with covid-19 in beds at the Tianjin Nankai Hospital in Tianjin on December 28, 2022.
People release balloons as they gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, January 1, 2023.
Hong Kong is preparing for quarantine-free travel to China, with plans to resume operations of more border checkpoints from January 8, according to a Facebook post by Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan.
However, a quota limiting the number of travelers between the two places will remain.
“Depending on the first phase of the situation, we will gradually scale up for a full reopening of the border,” Chan said.
In China, the relaxation of restrictions meant residents were able to ring in the New Year at large-scale gatherings that were banned for much of the pandemic, despite the country experiencing a massive outbreak of cases.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called for unity amid a “new phase” in his approach to fighting the pandemic yesterday in his first comments to the public on COVID-19 since he abandoned strict lockdown rules.
China’s turnaround followed unprecedented protests over Xi’s espoused policy, marking the strongest show of public defiance in his decade-long presidency.
People hold balloons as they gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, December 31, 2022.
In a televised address to mark the New Year, Xi said China had overcome unprecedented difficulties and challenges in the battle against COVID, and its policies were “optimized” as the situation and time required.
“Since the outbreak of the epidemic… the majority of the cadres and the masses, especially the medical staff, rank-and-file workers faced difficulties and bravely persevered,” Xi said.
‘At present, epidemic prevention and control are entering a new phase, it is still a time of struggle, everyone perseveres and works hard, and the dawn is yet to come. Let’s work harder, persistence means victory and unity means victory.’
Xi largely avoided directly addressing the problems facing the country, instead pointing to successes in agricultural production, eliminating poverty and hosting the Winter Olympics in February.
China will “always firmly advocate peace and development… and stand firmly on the right side of history,” he said.