From Thursday, travellers from China will be forced to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test before making the journey to Australia — a move that has sparked anger from Beijing.
Dr Chalmers did not directly deny the move was coordinated when questioned directly about it, and said Australia shared the worries of the WHO.
"I think that's very clear if you look at what the WHO has been saying about the sorts of steps that countries have been taking to manage travellers out of that part of the world, they said that these kind of steps are understandable and that's because they have a concern."We do need to make sure that we have the best possible surveillance of strains as they emerge but also waves as they emerge and become more difficult to manage.
"So, I'm not quite sure about what the government's saying – are they saying that the advice they are receiving from the chief medical officer and the health officials is not cautious? Are they saying that it is reckless in some way?
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