The return of international travel could be just weeks away with vaccine passports and home quarantine set to open up the world again for Australians.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged the pair as key to the next stage of the national plan when Australia’s lockdown border walls will finally come down.
The nation has effectively been cut off from the rest of the world since the pandemic began 18 months ago, with special permission needed to enter or exit Australia.
But once the nation hits 80 per cent double-dose vaccination, air travel is set to finally open up to fully vaccinated passengers with the introduction of vaccine passports and home quarantine.
The return of international travel could be just weeks away with vaccine passports and home quarantine set to open up the world again for Australians. (Pictured, a woman traveller wearing a mask in Sydney Airport)
Digital vaccine certificates confirming double-dose Covid jabs already exist, but the data, including the brand of vaccine, could also be added to the built-in chips in existing biometric passports.
Government officials have also been exploring QR codes to confirm individual’s vaccination status, incorporating the Visible Digital Seal technology used by the airline industry to authenticate information with a digital signature.
The PM is avoiding the term vaccine passports, but admitted they would be key to international travel getting off the ground again.
‘I refer to them as people have certificates of vaccination,’ he told Sky News. ‘And you’re going to need them for international travel.’
Digital vaccine certificates confirming double-dose Covid jabs already exist, but the data, including the brand of vaccine, could also be added to the built-in chips in existing biometric passports, pictured.
But the PM stressed the home quarantine was the vital component for the return of international travel.
The current hotel quarantine system will not be able to cope with the demand created by opening up travel to anyone who was double-dose vaccinated.
Everyone coming into the country at the moment must isolate at a recognised quarantine facility for two weeks regardless of their vaccination status.
But under proposed home quarantine plans, the time period could be slashed to just a few days for double-dose vaccinated travellers, with quarantine done at home.
Government officials have also been exploring QR codes to confirm individual’s vaccination status. (Pictured, a dose of AstraZeneca being given in Bankstown in Sydney’s south-west)
The current hotel quarantine system will not be able to cope with the demand created by opening up travel to anyone who was double-dose vaccinated. (Pictured, travellers heading out of Sydney Airport to go to hotel quarantine)
The US quarantine system allows travellers fully-dosed with an authorised vaccine to simply self-monitor their symptoms and get tested a few days after arrival.
Those travelling who are jabbed with vaccines not yet authorised in the US, such as the Chinese and Russian vaccines, must quarantine for a week.
‘To enable Australians to travel again then home quarantine needs to work,’ said Mr Morrison.
‘For people returning back from overseas, home quarantine needs to be at scale and needs to be tested and ready. And that’s what’s happening now.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) has flagged home quarantine and vaccine passports as key to the next stage of the national plan when Australia’s lockdown border walls will finally come down
Under proposed home quarantine plans, time in isolation could be slashed to just a few days for double-dose vaccinated travellers, with quarantine done at home. (Pictured, travellers arriving at a Melbourne hotel to go into quarantine)
‘And that’s what I’ll continue to push to open the country up because that’s what enables the national plan.’
Some states, including South Australia and NSW, have already been working on apps to facilitate and enforce home quarantine and the PM said results were promising.
‘They’ve been working with an app for some of their domestic-based home quarantine, which has been quite effective,’ he said.
‘Home quarantine is where we go next. And the length of that quarantine is also what we’re looking at.’
The US quarantine system allows travellers fully-dosed with an authorised vaccine to simply self-monitor their symptoms and get tested a few days after arrival. (Pictured, Pfizer jabs at a GP’s clinic in Sydney’s Belmore area)
The app development and vaccine certification is key to opening up the domestic hospitality and entertainment industry too, he said.
States are working with federal government to integrate vaccination status into local state check-in apps to streamline the return to normal life for two-jab Aussies.
The PM wants the states’ check-in apps to be able to identify those who are and are not vaccinated.
‘Every venue has every right under Australia’s property laws to be able to deny entry to people who are infected,’ he warned.
States are also working with federal government to integrate vaccination status into local state check-in apps to streamline the return to normal life for two-jab Aussies. (Pictured, a woman checking at Sydney’s Qudos Arena)
PM Scott Morrison (pictured) believes home quarantine and upgraded check-in apps with vaccination status will be key to opening up Australia to the world again at home and abroad
‘So the QR code reader can be used so it’s easy for people. You just go in like you’d normally do right now and it will show whether you’re vaccinated or not.
‘I’ll be following up last Friday’s meeting with the premiers, looking to get some timetables about their introduction of home quarantine.
‘But [I’ll be] also following up this issue of the integration of our technology that can enable fully vaccinated theatres, fully vaccinated events.
‘People can get back on stage, restaurants can get back and open their doors to their patrons and be able to operate under much less restrictions.
Some states, including South Australia and NSW, have already been working on apps to facilitate and enforce home quarantine and the PM said results were promising. (Pictured, people checking out of hotel quarantine in Melbourne)
‘But those two things have to be enabled by the integration of that technology on the QR code reader app that people have at a state level.
‘And secondly, for people to be able to leave the country if they’re vaccinated and return, to lift the caps on airports.’
However ACT chief Minister warned the territory’s app may not be able to easily transition to including vaccination status.
‘It is not an identity verification app, and so there’s an open question about whether you can link a verified identity document to an app you just put your name and mobile phone number in,’ he said on Tuesday.
Australia’s adult population is currently at 39.0 per cent double dose vaccinated, with 63.8 per cent having had one dose.
Scott Morrison wants the states’ check-in apps to be able to identify those who are and are not vaccinated. (Pictured, a pharmacist delivering a vaccine shot at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo)