Australia to reopen borders to fully vaccinated international arrivals from February 21: PM Scott Morrison
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced that the country's international borders will reopen to tourists starting from February 21, provided that the arriving individuals are double vaccinated.
"I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that and over the next two weeks they'll get the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia," Morrison said after a meeting of the National Security Committee, as quoted by The Australian. The Australian prime minister informed that people entering Australia starting from February 21 will need to be double vaccinated.
The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia," he said.
"That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it."
State-based cap and quarantine arrangements will continue, and will be up to state governments to alter as they see fit, Morrison said.
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.
"To be clear, we are absolutely welcoming back fully vaccinated visa holders. For those who are not vaccinated, they will have to provide proof that there is a medical reason that they cannot be vaccinated."
Morrison made it clear, with a reference to the recent Novak Djokovic saga, that even if people had the correct visa to enter Australia, if they were not fully vaccinated - or had an exemption - they would not be allowed to enter.
"I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that (that) is the requirement to enter into Australia," he said.
Almost 300,000 people have travelled to Australia since it started reopening its borders in November last year.
The government shut the international border to everyone except Australian citizens and residents in March 2020 amid what was then the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
It was an unprecedented step up from the travel bans that had been in place for anyone from China, Iran, Italy and South Korea in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Australia.
The government has slowly begun to reopen to certain countries and people, first with the New Zealand travel bubble and, most recently, allowing tourists from Japan and South Korea, along with some visa holders, back into Australia.
He had announced plans to reopen Australia's borders to foreigners back in October, stating that it should happen at some point in 2022, marking the first time in nearly two years that tourism will be returning to the country.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced that the country's international borders will reopen to tourists starting from February 21, provided that the arriving individuals are double vaccinated.
"I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that and over the next two...
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced that the country's international borders will reopen to tourists starting from February 21, provided that the arriving individuals are double vaccinated.
"I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that and over the next two weeks they'll get the opportunity both for visitors to be coming and for them to be gearing up to welcome international visitors back to Australia," Morrison said after a meeting of the National Security Committee, as quoted by The Australian. The Australian prime minister informed that people entering Australia starting from February 21 will need to be double vaccinated.
The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia," he said.
"That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it."
State-based cap and quarantine arrangements will continue, and will be up to state governments to alter as they see fit, Morrison said.
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.
"To be clear, we are absolutely welcoming back fully vaccinated visa holders. For those who are not vaccinated, they will have to provide proof that there is a medical reason that they cannot be vaccinated."
Morrison made it clear, with a reference to the recent Novak Djokovic saga, that even if people had the correct visa to enter Australia, if they were not fully vaccinated - or had an exemption - they would not be allowed to enter.
"I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that (that) is the requirement to enter into Australia," he said.
Almost 300,000 people have travelled to Australia since it started reopening its borders in November last year.
The government shut the international border to everyone except Australian citizens and residents in March 2020 amid what was then the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
It was an unprecedented step up from the travel bans that had been in place for anyone from China, Iran, Italy and South Korea in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19 in Australia.
The government has slowly begun to reopen to certain countries and people, first with the New Zealand travel bubble and, most recently, allowing tourists from Japan and South Korea, along with some visa holders, back into Australia.
He had announced plans to reopen Australia's borders to foreigners back in October, stating that it should happen at some point in 2022, marking the first time in nearly two years that tourism will be returning to the country.
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