Scott Morrison confirms travel ban to be lifted NEXT month as he reveals big changes to quarantine rules
- Australians can travel overseas once states hit 80 per cent double vaccinated
- Fully vaccinated travellers will be able to quarantine at home for seven days
Australians will finally be able to travel overseas from next month with fully vaccinated residents allowed to quarantine at home for seven days.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced the changes which will apply to states and territories that hit 80 per cent double dose vaccination coverage – with NSW on track to be the first to reach that milestone.
Mr Morrison said quarantine-free travel may also be set up for certain countries such as New Zealand.
‘It’s time to give Australians their lives back. We’ve saved lives. We’ve saved livelihoods, but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country,’ Mr Morrison said.
Australians will finally be able to travel overseas from next month with fully vaccinated residents allowed to quarantine at home for seven days, Scott Morrison announced on Friday
Australians looking for an overseas holiday will be be able to access an internationally recognised proof of vaccination document in the coming weeks to prove their status.
Unvaccinated Australians will still have to complete the mandatory 14-day quarantine stint in hotels or designated facilities upon their return.
People who cannot be vaccinated including those under 12 or with a medical condition will be treated as vaccinated for the purposes of their travel.
Australians have been banned from leaving the country since March 18, 2020 under strict biosecurity laws to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.
Australia is in talks to set up quarantine-free travel bubbles with the UK, US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Pacific islands such as Fiji for the fully vaccinated. Pictured: London’s Big Ben
States and territories will begin this program at different times given varying vaccination rates.
On current projections NSW will hit the 80 per cent vaccination rate on October 16. Victoria will reach the mark on November 23, Queensland on December 8 and Western Australia on December 15.
The re-opening of the international border would mean that NSW and Victoria residents will be able to fly to London or New York before Brisbane or Perth due to state border closures.
Australia remains in long-held talks to set up quarantine-free travel bubbles with the UK, US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Pacific islands such as Fiji for the double-vaccinated.
More to come.