Coronavirus: Delta variant surge in Australia prompts Hong Kong expert to suggest raising its Covid-19 risk level, but government adviser says move is unnecessary
- Dr Leung Chi-chiu says moving country to high-risk category makes sense and points to similar move taken against Singapore
- But pandemic adviser notes Australia’s rules governing movement of own citizens, which stops most from leaving
A recent surge of coronavirus cases in Australia has prompted an expert in Hong Kong to suggest a tightening of the rules for arrivals from the country by raising its Covid-19 risk status.
But a government health adviser said the recommendation by Dr Leung Chi-chiu was unnecessary as Australia had already taken measures to prevent people from leaving the country.
Australia has been one of the few places that has managed to keep its coronavirus epidemic largely under control over the past few months, but the situation there has worsened with the spread of the Delta variant in the past week.
On Thursday, the country reported 48 new cases, of which 31 were locally acquired, and has confirmed around 30 to 40 infections each day this week.
At least five places in Australia, including major cities Sydney and Brisbane, have been locked down.