Publications
- The health department says it will not impose travel restrictions on travellers from China.
- The US, Japan and India imposed restrictions after an increase in Covid-19 cases in China.
- China dropped Covid-19 restrictions in early December.
The health department says it will not impose restrictions on travellers from China as Covid-19 infections in that country continue to surge.
China dropped its Covid-19 restrictions in early December. The drop led to an increase in new infections in the country.
China plans to lift quarantine requirements for inbound travellers from 8 January.
Several countries, including the United States, Japan, India, Malaysia and Taiwan, have imposed travel restrictions on travellers from China.
Japan requires a negative Covid-19 test from travellers from China. Those testing positive will be required to quarantine.
Japan also wants to limit flights from China.
On Wednesday, Italian authorities said almost half of the 212 passengers, who arrived at Milan Airport from China on Monday, tested positive for Covid-19.
Health department spokesperson Foster Mohale said no restrictions against China were being considered as yet.
He said:
Mohale said vaccinating against Covid-19 was the best defence against the disease. He encouraged people to wear masks when they see a need.
On Thursday, the director of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a press briefing, said that, to make a comprehensive risk assessment of the Covid-19 situation in China, it needed more information.
He said that, with no information, it was understandable that countries were acting in ways to try and protect their populations.
"We remain concerned about the evolving situation, and we continue encouraging China to track the Covid-19 virus and vaccinate the highest-risk people. We continue to offer our support for clinical care and protecting its health system," Ghebreyesus said.
