Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed COVID-19 testing rules for Chinese travellers is aimed at encouraging Beijing to be more open with its pandemic data.
was part of an international effort to encourage Beijing to be more transparent with pandemic data, as first reported byThe requirement for travellers from China, Hong Kong and Macau to provide a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours before flying to Australia kicked in on Thursday.
Mr Butler reiterated he expected the COVID-19 testing mandate to be a temporary measure that would give Australia greater confidence regarding the transmission of COVID-19 from China.
These included a program for voluntary sampling of incoming arrivals, increased domestic wastewater testing, and ensuring follow-up of international travellers who test positive within 14 days of arriving in Australia.
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