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Australia will welcome foreign tourists tomorrow after keeping its borders sealed for nearly two years after turning to a strategy of living with the virus, relying on high rates of COVID-19 vaccination as the number of cases declines.
"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 yet of the government's shift from a strict zero-tolerance approach to COVID to living with the virus and vaccinating people to reduce deaths and severe disease.
The more than 2.7 million infections in the country have been recorded since the Omicron variant emerged in late November. But with one of the world's highest vaccination rates - more than 94% of people aged 16 and over are dually vaccinated - fewer than 5,000 deaths have been recorded, just a fraction of the numbers reported in many other developed countries.
Today, the country has recorded over 16,600 cases of coronavirus - with no complete data yet 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 travellers will prefer the country, which has been dubbed "Fortress Australia" because of its strict border controls.
Australia is phasing out border restrictions from November, allowing Australians to travel first and then allowing overseas students and workers to enter. From tomorrow, those travelling for leisure and a greater number of people travelling for business will be able to enter the country.
[/P]Fully vaccinated tourists will not need to be quarantined, but those who have not received two doses of vaccines will need a special exemption to enter the country and will be subject to quarantine restrictions.
Source: APE-MPA
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