Butler defends ‘perplexing’ decision to ignore expert advice on China COVID testing
Health Minister Mark Butler says subjecting arrivals from China to COVID testing is a ‘modest measure’.
Butler also denied accusations from racial justice groups that the government had unfairly singled out Chinese travellers and shown “blatant disregard” for Australians of Asian heritage., dated December 31, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said: “I do not believe that there is sufficient public health rationale to impose any restriction or additional requirements on travellers from China.”
Butler said the World Health Organisation was particularly concerned that China is not uploading the genomic sequencing of COVID cases in real time, making it difficult to tell whether new COVID variants are emerging there. Melissa McIntosh, the assistant opposition spokeswoman for mental health, said it was “perplexing” the government had ignored Kelly’s advice.
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