Australia is finally reopening for vaccinated tourists, as per an announcement by the country’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The country is looking forward to welcoming vaccinated tourists from February 21 onwards, thus ending its longstanding pandemic travel restrictions.
The country had closed its borders in March 2020, and had restricted most foreign travellers from entering the country. The Prime Minister said in a media briefing, “It’s almost two years since we took the decision to close the borders to Australia. If you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back.”
While international students and skilled migrants were permitted to enter the country since last December, the majority of foreign travellers were barred from entering, until now.
The country had implemented some very strict measures to fight the COVID pandemic ever since it first broke out. Even Australians were banned from leaving the country last year. But all that is about to change as the country goes forward to allow its borders to reopen for travel.
However, parts of Australia still have some tight measures in place. Western Australia for instane still has its tight restrictions in place. Non-residents are still not permitted to enter into Western Australia, and not just that, Australians from other states are also not allowed to enter unless they have permission.
Australia has seen low numbers of infections in the past week, which has also dipped hospital admissions. The country reported a little over 23000 new cases on Monday. A total of 2.4 million cases have been recorded in the country since the first case of Omicron was detected back in November in the country.
