China travel bans from Late 2022

[Rich]

The less on from Victoria has been that sticking to the medical advice will ultimately play well with the majority of the people.

Actually, the Vic government took power away from the CHO.
I believe they realised that the public weren't going to accept another lockdown or other restrictions so they took that power away.
They then removed mask requirements in public transport at a time when the majority were ignoring the law and cases were increasing. And an election was coming.

 

[Pushka]

There’s some data from Beijing that shows it’s primarily the Omicron BA.5 subvariant BF.7
That has already swept through Australia last winter.
The bivalent booster is adapted for BA.5

Most of us haven’t had that as a booster.

 

[Tad]

I guess I'm not the only one wondering....

No plans to restart hotel quarantine for travellers from China: Watt

Business groups have called on the government to urgently clarify details of restrictions on travellers from China due to start on Thursday.

www.smh.com.au

From Dep. of Health (2/1/23);

What about for passengers transiting through China, including Hong Kong and Macau?
Travellers on flights transiting through China, including Hong Kong and Macau originating in other countries do not need to undertake pre-departure testing. For example, people boarding a flight in London that transits through Hong Kong and ends in Sydney do not need to test.
However, the testing requirement does apply to those who travel to China, including Hong Kong or Macau from another country and spend several days there prior to travelling to Australia.

COVID-19 and travel

Find out about travel requirements and steps you can take to stay safe.

www.health.gov.au

 

[clifford]

Most of us haven’t had that as a booster.

But one wonders why the Govt is denying us that...

 

[kpc]

From Dep. of Health (2/1/23);

What about for passengers transiting through China, including Hong Kong and Macau?
Travellers on flights transiting through China, including Hong Kong and Macau originating in other countries do not need to undertake pre-departure testing. For example, people boarding a flight in London that transits through Hong Kong and ends in Sydney do not need to test.
However, the testing requirement does apply to those who travel to China, including Hong Kong or Macau from another country and spend several days there prior to travelling to Australia.

COVID-19 and travel

Find out about travel requirements and steps you can take to stay safe.

www.health.gov.au

Thanks just heard that on ABC news...also kids 12 and under are exempt

 

[drron]

Ah. 'vaccinated'. But that's against a variant that we are being told about. Are we sure that's the actual variant currently circulating?

Even the bivalent vaccine is already virtually useless against the variants we have now.
The current variant causing large outbreaks now in the US and UK evades the immune system even more. There is no evidence that it is present in China.
So by your reasoning we should be saying pre boarding negative tests for those travelling from the UK and US rather than China.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Even the bivalent vaccine is already virtually useless against the variants we have now.
The current variant causing large outbreaks now in the US and UK evades the immune system even more. There is no evidence that it is present in China.
So by your reasoning we should be saying pre boarding negative tests for those travelling from the UK and US rather than China.

It is what it is.

The government has made the decision. I cannot understand why anyone in Australia is concerned. It hardly affects them.

Anyone, no matter where they depart, should defer their travel if they are positive with covid. So the impact on China compared to anywhere else should be minimal.

 

[tomlee1986]

It is what it is.

The government has made the decision. I cannot understand why anyone in Australia is concerned. It hardly affects them.

Anyone, no matter where they depart, should defer their travel if they are positive with covid. So the impact on China compared to anywhere else should be minimal.

Travelling unwell in a plane won’t be good… just like QF1 is now diverted to Athens due to medical emergency- I pray for the speedy recovery of the passenger involved

 

[Mr H]

Travelling unwell in a plane won’t be good… just like QF1 is now diverted to Athens due to medical emergency- I pray for the speedy recovery of the passenger involved

Thousands of people travel while unwell every day. Some people even die in flight. Airlines have procedures to cope.

 

[Tropic]

Thousands of people previously locked down in their homes and mass quarantine centres in a country where Covid is now surging off the charts being released into the global transport system... what could possibly go wrong? No point worrying about testing. Lets just see how it goes.

 

[Mr H]

Thousands of people previously locked down in their homes and mass quarantine centres in a country where Covid is now surging off the charts being released into the global transport system... what could possibly go wrong?

Not very much could go wrong since we all have the virus already.

 

[Tropic]

One news outlet's assessment why some governments may have concerns...

Why China's COVID-19 wave is stirring fear

BEIJING: China is experiencing a huge COVID-19 surge after years of hardline containment restrictions were dismantled last month. A growing number of countries are worri

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[drron]

There is nothing to fear except fear itself.

 

[RooFlyer]

There is no evidence that it is present in China.

I know what you mean, but not having evidence of something that may or may not be or be happening in China may be more a reflection of the CCP's secrecy and misinformation than anything else

 

[hb13]

The restrictions/requirements for travellers from China is racial and there is no evidence otherwise. Some of the comments here to try and justify these new restrictions don't hold up when you (a) consider the vast majority of medical professionals have actually spoken AGAINST these restrictions; and (b) actually do a basic level of research and see that the worst variants currently circulating are in the US and UK.

Also, if we don't 'trust' China with regards to anything - what's the point of a pre-departure test when these can easily be faked?

Also, for those comments about why 'Australians are bothered because it doesn't concern them" - that's pretty outrageous. If something wrong has occurred, even if it doesn't affect you, it doesn't mean you just don't care.

 

[Tropic]

The restrictions/requirements for travellers from China is racial and there is no evidence otherwise

Really?

 

[Tropic]

There is nothing to fear except fear itself.

Indeed Drron, indeed. I fear nothing and noone and rely on my intellect, self awareness and brute physical strength to protect myself and those I love from harm. But unfortunately noone has control over being impacted by the stupidity of others.

 

[hb13]

Really?

If you disagree - what is your evidence?

 

[Tropic]

Really? Not that I particularly care, I believe the burden of proof rests with you as the one who made the claim; to provide any counter-argument would just be fallacious reasoning on my part.

 

[Ric]

Here in Thailand the media have articles on how the Chinese will be welcomed back with open arms. So what happens if they do import huge numbers of Covid positive people?
Do we then insist on a negative test on all travellers from Thailand?

I think this is most lucid post on this thread.
Maybe we also should insist on tests for all arrivals from Italy?