Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the Australian public in a press conference this afternoon announcing Australia will open to international travellers who are fully vaccinated on February 21.
The announcement made by the PM will see Australia open to the world almost two years after closing its borders to international visitors.
“The national cabinet has decided today Australia will reopen our borders to all remaining visa holders on February 21 of this year,” said the PM.
“The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia.”
“That’s the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it.”
The news is music to the ears of tourism bodies, who have been suffering due to the reduced visitor numbers that have resulted from the border closure.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said unvaccinated travellers would still need to apply for a travel exemption to come to Australia and have to undergo hotel quarantine if they were granted permission to enter the country.
“Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require an exemption, a travel exemption to enter here into Australia … on their arrival here [they will be directed] to the relevant state and territory quarantine requirements,” Minister Andrews said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has clarified that the definition of “fully vaccinated” will remain at two doses.
“For those who are coming in who are double vaccinated, they don’t present any greater risk than those who are already here in Australia,” said the PM.
“It’s a sensible and I think it’s an important move for us to make as we sort of, as best as we possibly can this year drive Australia back to a position of as much normality as we can achieve.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt who is at this press conference provided a national covid update.
“Over the weekend we have passed the 51m dose mark for the vaccination program and we’re expected to pass the nine million booster mark,” he said.
“Three million Novavax vaccines are due to arrive today, later on from Singapore by air.
“We have now begun the deployment of 50,000 oral COVID treatments.”
You may not always receive a call, SMS or email from SA Health.
You must follow the relevant health advice even if you have not been contacted.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.
For more information on health advice and requirements for households, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing.
Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting
More News
