Pre-flight COVID-19 tests to be scrapped, Greg Hunt announces
Travellers coming into Australia from overseas will no longer need to pass a COVID test before boarding their flight.
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the change following conversations he had with the CEOs of Qantas and Virgin as well as the Chief Health Officer.
“At the moment, for somebody to enter into Australia, they need to have a pre-flight test,” he said.
“Given that the vaccination requirements remain and the masking requirements, the strong medical advice is that that would no longer be required, particularly as there are some challenges in some jurisdictions in having access to those tests or improving those tests.”
Masks will still be required to be worn aboard international flights.
The change will come into effect on April 17.
The same day, price gouging rules on rapid antigen tests (RATs) will also lapse.
More than 509 million rapid antigen tests have arrived in Australia, Mr Hunt announced.
The ACCC will closely monitor the supply of RATs.
Under current rules, Australian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to come into the country even if they are not vaccinated.
Wildlife take over the streets, as world isolates from COVID-19
But other visa holders must be vaccinated to enter, unless they are granted an exemption.
COVID-19 cases are declining along the east coast, with Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland all reporting drops overnight.
