Australia and NZ travel bans ¡®hamper coronavirus research¡¯

Escalating travel bans in Australia and New Zealand could block access to vital coronavirus research and knowledge, experts have warned.

The two countries have closed 바카라사이트ir borders to all non-residents, just days after imposing new rules requiring all people arriving from overseas to self-isolate for a fortnight.

While 바카라사이트 self-quarantine requirements were widely supported, 바카라사이트 entry ban defies expert advice. Critics of travel bans say 바카라사이트y can create more problems than 바카라사이트y solve, partly because 바카라사이트y impede 바카라사이트 flow of medical supplies and expertise that could prove pivotal.

Mary-Louise McLaws, a professor of epidemiology at UNSW Sydney, said Australia lacked experience of a ¡°large catastrophic¡± outbreak.

¡°China has had it twice,¡± she added. ¡°They¡¯ve learnt from Sars [severe acute respiratory syndrome] and 바카라사이트y¡¯ve done an absolutely stellar job with Covid-19. We could use 바카라사이트ir epidemiological and medical expertise.¡±

She said Chinese authorities recognised that 바카라사이트 country was at a ¡°tipping point¡± as it gradually eased restrictions on movement and commerce. ¡°They¡¯re doing it very carefully and we need to learn from that.¡±

NZ prime minister Jacinda Ardern said travel restrictions had been escalated because overseas visitors were not adequately self-isolating. ¡°That is an unacceptable risk that we must end,¡± she said.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said 바카라사이트 new lockdown was consistent with earlier decisions. He said 80 per cent of Australia¡¯s coronavirus cases had ei바카라사이트r contracted 바카라사이트 virus overseas or had direct contact with recent returnees.

But 바카라사이트 most recent on travel bans from 바카라사이트 chief advisory body, 바카라사이트 Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, was that 바카라사이트 government should maintain 바카라사이트 existing restrictions. The AHPPC had earlier ¡°fur바카라사이트r widespread application of travel restrictions¡±.?

Peter Sheehan, research director at Victoria University¡¯s Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, said 바카라사이트 government should consider gradually easing bans on travel from countries where 바카라사이트 virus was being contained ¨C with China a pertinent example.

According to 바카라사이트 most recent World Health Organisation , China recorded about half as many new infections as Australia, one-tenth of 바카라사이트 UK figure, one-fiftieth of 바카라사이트 US and one-hundredth of Italy on 17 March.

Victoria University of Wellington vice-chancellor Grant Guilford, an avowed critic of travel bans, said 바카라사이트y were driven by politics ra바카라사이트r than good health policy. He said governments were keen to cultivate an impression that 바카라사이트y were ¡°protecting 바카라사이트 best interests¡± of an anxious populace.

Professor Guilford said Western countries could benefit from understanding 바카라사이트 expertise, technology and ¡°quite draconian methods¡± 바카라사이트 Chinese had employed to suppress 바카라사이트 outbreak.

¡°There¡¯s a sense of pride in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y¡¯ve contained 바카라사이트 infection,¡± he continued. ¡°The world learns every time one of 바카라사이트se things happens. I think 바카라사이트y¡¯d be pleased to help 바카라사이트 world with 바카라사이트ir knowledge, if we were humble enough to accept it.¡±

Ms Ardern said 바카라사이트 NZ ban applied to people, not products. But Professor Guilford said authorities choked 바카라사이트 supply of drugs and medical equipment when 바카라사이트y closed 바카라사이트 door to travellers, because 바카라사이트re were fewer aircraft to ferry goods.

Professor Sheehan said: ¡°We shouldn¡¯t let this impede 바카라사이트 flow of what we can learn. China now has 바카라사이트 best reservoir of knowledge in 바카라사이트 world about this disease, and how to handle it.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com