Why Australia isn't imposing China travel restrictions amid COVID-19 surge

A number one infectious illness skilled has defended the federal government’s choice to not impose COVID-19 restrictions on travellers from China.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy said Australia shouldn't be panicking about the COVID-19 surge in China. — Infectious ailments skilled Professor Robert Booy mentioned Australia should not be panicking in regards to the COVID-19 surge in China. (Today)

Infectious Diseases Paediatrician Professor Robert Booy, from the University of Sydney, mentioned there is not any must be alarmed in regards to the surge in circumstances in China simply but.

“We have the best immunity almost in the world,” he instructed Today.

“We’re on the fourth wave in Australia right now, and it’s actually the lowest, and least causative of death, in Australia.

“The causes international locations like Italy and US have launched it (restrictions) and stopped individuals coming, is as a result of they’ve ten occasions the loss of life charge within the first 12 months of the pandemic.

“They are far more twitchy.”

A patient is turned away from the emergency room due to full capacity at the Baoding No. 2 Central Hospital in Zhuozhou city in northern China's Hebei province on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. — A affected person is turned away from the emergency room resulting from full capability in northern China. (AP Photo/Dake Kang, File)

Passengers in protective gear are directed to a flight at a Capital airport terminal in Beijing on December 13, 2022. — Passengers in protecting gear are directed to a flight at a Capital airport terminal in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

The illness has been spreading quickly by means of China since pandemic restrictions had been loosened earlier this month.

Every an infection offers the virus one other probability to mutate.

COVID-19 seen under the microscope. — COVID-19 seen underneath the microscope. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“Because millions of people are currently being infected in China, and the coronavirus crisis mutates as a rule, there will be a mutation eventually that will evade immunity, maybe as a sub-variant,” Booy defined.

“We haven’t had a new variant for over a year. It tells us that Omicron and COVID especially maybe on the way out. That is the good news.

“The unhealthy news with so many individuals getting contaminated in China we may get that mutation that we have not seen earlier than.”

Medical personnel wait for passengers coming with an Air China flight from Guangzhou, China, in a COVID-19 testing area set at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci international airport in Fiumicino, Thursday, December 29, 2022 after Italy made coronavirus tests mandatory for all airline passengers arriving from China. — Medical personnel wait for passengers coming with an Air China flight from Guangzhou, China, in a COVID-19 testing area set at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci international airport in Fiumicino, Thursday, December 29, 2022 after Italy made coronavirus tests mandatory for all airline passengers arriving from China. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Booy said there are sensible measures Australia can take now to help safeguard the country from the virus.

“We can require individuals to have a RAT (fast antigen take a look at) earlier than they get on a airplane in China. A fast antigen take a look at inside 24 hours of coming to the airport,” he said.

“We can ask all of them to put on masks, we will exclude individuals with signs.