Australia will welcome foreign tourists tomorrow, after keeping its borders sealed for almost two years, after turning to a strategy of coexisting with the virus, based on high rates of vaccination against COVID-19 as the number of cases decreases.
“The wait is over,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters at Melbourne International Airport today.
Australia’s opening up to tourists is the clearest example so far of the government’s shift from a strict zero-tolerance approach to COVID to coexisting with people with the virus and vaccination to reduce deaths and serious illness.
Most of the 2.7 million infections in the country have been recorded since the Omicron variant appeared in late November. But with one of the highest vaccination rates in the world – over 94% of people aged 16 and over are double-vaccinated – fewer than 5,000 deaths have been reported, just some of the numbers reported in many other developed countries.
Today, the country has recorded more than 16,600 cases of coronavirus – without complete data from all regions – and at least 33 deaths, mostly in the three most populous states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland).
It remains to be seen, however, whether travelers will prefer the country, which has been dubbed “Australia Fortress” because of its strict border controls.
Australia has been phasing out border restrictions since November, allowing Australians to travel first and then admitting students and staff from abroad. From tomorrow, those who travel for leisure as well as a larger number of people who travel for business will be able to enter the country.
Fully vaccinated tourists will not need to be quarantined, but those who have not received two doses of vaccine will need a special exemption to enter the country and will be subject to quarantine restrictions.
Source: Capital
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