Students from China begin arriving in Australia after coronavirus quarantine time in third countries
Students from mainland China have expressed mixed emotions about their experiences transiting through third countries to comply with Australia's coronavirus quarantine rules.
Key points:
- International students who go to a third country for 14 days can enter Australia
- 1,477 students from China arrived in Australia on February 21 and 22
- Senior high-school students from China who comply with Government rules can also travel to Australia
The Federal Government has confirmed 1,477 students from China who spent 14 days in a country other than mainland China arrived in Australia on February 21 and 22.
Adelaide University student Iris Zhang spent two weeks in Thailand to adhere to the quarantine rules and flew into Australia on the weekend.
"I was relieved after the stress in the past two weeks and with all the extra money spent, I'm finally able to go back to class normally," she said.
RMIT student Lolly Deng flew into Melbourne on February 20 after a 23-day ordeal trying to make it back to Australia, spending time in Hong Kong and Thailand.
She said she went through a strict background check at Customs in Australia with five other Chinese students.
"There was an officer asking questions while filling out a form regarding my whereabouts in the past 14 days and when I left China," she said.
"The atmosphere was definitely serious, but it wasn't too scary.
"After all of this I feel like I have grown a lot."
University of Sydney student Chris Liu is currently in Thailand for the quarantine period and said he looked forward to getting on with his study.
"The census day is the end of March … so long as I attend campus before that date, I can just continue my study," he said.
While the Government has confirmed nearly 1,500 students arrived in Australia on February 21 and 22, thousands of students studying at various institutions remain caught up in coronavirus travel restrictions.
In mid-February it emerged that Australian authorities were advising students they would be able to get around the travel ban if they spent 14 days outside mainland China before flying to Australia.
That advice still stands.
"The Government has made the safety of Australians its priority and our actions have been guided by the expert medical advice," Education Minister Dan Tehan said in a statement.
"Students who go to a third country and undertake their 14-day quarantine period can enter Australia as long as they abide by existing medical and immigration guidelines."
Senior high-school students from China are also now allowed to travel to Australia under exemptions announced by the Government on Saturday.
"This was a small, important step, based on medical advice, towards the normal operation of our education system," Mr Tehan said.