Travellers landing in Melbourne from Hong Kong under the Albanese government’s new pre-departure COVID-19 testing regime have reported a smooth process, but some questioned whether the new rules were needed.
The number of cases in China have surged as the country moved to abandon its zero-COVID policy, and itRobert Wilkins, a 68-year-old from the UK who has lived in Hong Kong since the 1980s, said he moved smoothly through Melbourne Airport without being asked for proof of his negative test after he presented evidence upon boarding.
This is the first time Wilkins has left Hong Kong since the pandemic struck three years ago, and he is looking forward to being reunited with his 31-year-old daughter, who is based in Sydney.Wilkins said it was unclear to him what kind of pre-flight test the Australian government required, but he erred on the side of caution and got a PCR test near his Hong Kong office.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler on Thursday declared the screening measures a success and said there had been “no issues identified with compliance with those measures” on any flight from China, Hong Kong or Macau, and that all airlines had co-operated. Asked why he ignored advice from Kelly that the screening was unnecessary, Butler repeated that it was a precautionary measure and that other recommendations made by the chief health officer – such as testing waste water from planes arriving from China – had been adopted.
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