Medical and Hospital News  
EPIDEMICS
More countries roll out China traveller checks amid Covid surge
by AFP Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Jan 1, 2023

Australia demands negative Covid test for China arrivals
Sydney (AFP) Jan 1, 2023 - Australia on Sunday became the latest country to demand travellers from China provide a negative Covid-19 test before arrival, citing a "lack of comprehensive information" from Beijing about the country's wave of cases

Health Minister Mark Butler said the move -- which will take effect from January 5 -- was being made "to safeguard Australia from the risk of potential new emerging variants" and "in recognition of the rapidly evolving situation in China".

Three years after the coronavirus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Beijing this month began ditching its hardline containment policy known as "zero-Covid".

Chinese hospitals have since been hit by a flood of mostly elderly patients, crematoriums have been overloaded and many pharmacies have run out of fever medications.

While more than 97 percent of Australian adults have had at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, there is concern in Canberra that Chinese authorities are not adequately sharing details about case numbers, or which variants are circulating.

"This measure is in response to the significant wave of Covid-19 infections in China and the potential for emerging viral variants in that country," said Butler.

"Fortunately, in Australia we have readily available access to vaccines and treatments, and high underlying population immunity."

Travellers from China now face restrictions when entering more than a dozen countries as concern grows over its surge in Covid-19 cases, with Australia the latest to demand a negative test before arrival.

Last month, Beijing abruptly began dismantling its "zero-Covid" containment policy of lockdowns and mass testing, three years after the coronavirus first emerged in the city of Wuhan.

As Covid overwhelms Chinese hospitals and crematoriums, officials have insisted that the wave is "under control" despite acknowledging that the true scale of infections is "impossible" to track.

Australia's health minister on Sunday cited Beijing's "lack of comprehensive information" about Covid cases as the reasoning behind the travel requirement, which will take effect on January 5. The move will "safeguard Australia from the risk of potential new emerging variants," he said.

In recent days, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have also imposed either a negative Covid test requirement or testing upon arrival for travellers from China.

Canada cited "the limited epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data available" on recent Covid cases in China for its negative test demand.

Meanwhile, Morocco moved to ban all arrivals from China on Saturday, "to avoid a new wave of contaminations in Morocco and all its consequences".

The flurry of global travel restrictions began as countries anticipated a surge in Chinese visitors after Beijing announced mandatory quarantine for inbound passengers would end on January 8.

The World Health Organization has called the precautionary measures "understandable" in light of the lack of outbreak information provided by Beijing.

But the European branch of the International Airports Council -- which represents more than 500 airports in 55 European countries -- said the restrictions were not justified or risk-based.

European countries will meet next week to discuss a joint response to the issue, with incoming EU presidency holder Sweden saying it was "seeking a common policy for the entire EU when it comes to the introduction of possible entry restrictions".

- 'Light of hope' -

While a few major Chinese cities seem to be emerging from the current wave of infections, under-resourced smaller cities and rural areas have been hit especially hard.

In response to the outbreak, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said on Sunday that she is "willing to provide necessary assistance based on humanitarian concerns," but did not specify what kind of aid might be extended to Beijing, which considers the self-ruled island a breakaway province.

But in his televised New Year address, Chinese President Xi Jinping struck an optimistic note.

"Epidemic prevention and control is entering a new phase... Everyone is working resolutely, and the light of hope is right in front of us," Xi said in a speech broadcast on state media on Saturday.

It was Xi's second time commenting on the outbreak this week. On Monday, he called for measures to "effectively protect people's lives".

Despite the jump in infections, large crowds still gathered for New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai and Wuhan, although some social media users said the festivities seemed more subdued than in past years.

China on Sunday reported more than 5,100 new infections and one death linked to Covid out of its population of 1.4 billion -- but the figures appear to be out of step with the reality on the ground.


Related Links
Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


EPIDEMICS
Taiwan's Tsai offers assistance to China over virus surge
Taipei (AFP) Jan 1, 2023
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen extended an olive branch to Beijing on Sunday, pledging to offer assistance if needed as coronavirus cases surge in China after its abrupt lifting of pandemic restrictions. "As long as there is a need, we are willing to provide necessary assistance based on humanitarian concerns," Tsai said in her customary New Year's Day speech. She added that she hoped Taiwanese aid could "help more people out of the pandemic and have a healthy and safe New Year". China is ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

EPIDEMICS
French mayor under fire for fighting Mont Blanc hikers

Aid from two World Bank entities hit record $75 bn in 2022

Global alarm grows over China's Covid surge

China Covid pivot sparks jitters worldwide

EPIDEMICS
Airbus achieves key milestone on EGNOS European satellite-based navigation augmentation system

Kleos partners with UP42

Navigating the sea from space with innovative technologies

KKR leads Series B funding round in AI leader Advanced Navigation

EPIDEMICS
The brain's ability to perceive space expands like the universe

Bearskin dance reconnects Romania youth with tradition

Researchers uncover 168 new Nazca geoglyphs

Iraqi conservators strive to preserve ancient manuscripts

EPIDEMICS
New dwarf boa found in Ecuadoran Amazon

Hard to bear: UK's only panda pair to return to China

Bornean elephant fatally gores handler in Malaysia park

Pygmy elephant gores handler to death in Malaysia

EPIDEMICS
China's Xi says 'light of hope in front of us' on Covid

Elderly patients fill hospitals in Shanghai Covid surge

EU 'encouraged' to demand Covid tests from China passengers

Why monitor wastewater of flights arriving from China for Covid

EPIDEMICS
Hong Kongers await border reopening with mixed feelings

China gives Hong Kong leader power to bar foreign lawyers

Australia urges release of citizens in China

Hong Kong author Xi Xi dies aged 85

EPIDEMICS
Three Peru police generals, others arrested in alleged graft plot

El Salvador rounds up 185 in major gang crackdown

In El Salvador, soldiers patrol where gangs once ruled

Colombia sending troops to southern border to fight drug gangs

EPIDEMICS








The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.