COVID-19: No more testing to enter Australia from 17 April 2022

Greg Hunt the Federal Health Minister has just announced – on the advice of Paul Kelly the Chief Medical Officer, that having a PCR or RAT test prior to boarding flights to Australia will no longer be a condition of entry from 17 April 2022.

That is considered (other than mask-wearing on planes and in airports) as being the last impediment to a return to pre-pandemic travel.

However, all entrants to Australia whether tourists or returning residents and citizens will still need to be double vaccinated, and provide acceptable evidence of that using approved vaccines,

History

Australia closed its borders nearly exactly 2 years ago on 20 March 2020. We only re-opened those borders a month ago on 21 February of 2022, when you still needed a RAT test 24 hours after arrival – down from a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before arrival.

Travel Industry

Jayne (Hrdlicka of Virgin Australia) and Alan (Joyce of Qantas Group) will be creaming their jeans – so to speak at this announcement. This also matches the removal of many restrictions previously imposed by our South East Asian neighbours like Singapore (no testing or quarantine for the fully vaxed after 1 April) and Thailand which are both pretty much restriction free.

New Zealand is still holding our, with a phased reopening commencing on 13 April. However, arriving in NZ will still require a negative RAT or PCR test, as well as further RAT testing post landing.

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

GET VAXED & BOOSTED !!

I’m sure I am largely preaching to the choir here, but if this is not an incentive to get double vaxed if not triple or quadruple vaxed then I don’t know what is! I’ll be lining up for my 4th shot in April, once I am eligible.