OFFICIAL Australia reopens borders: here's the date
We had written it recently the time was almost ripe and statements to this effect were beginning to be all too frequent, [...]
We had written this recently the time was almost ripe and declarations to this effect were beginning to be all too frequent, now the official date has arrived and it is sooner, much sooner than anyone could have imagined.
In this article:
Australia will reopen borders to vaccinated tourists from around the world next Feb. 21.
In these two years, not only has Australia prevented travel by tourists and even its citizens to the mainland, but it has banned its citizens from leaving the country from February 2020 to October 2021. In these early months, flights of Qantas to destinations such as England and the United States, but solely or almost solely to enable residents to move after 2 years of forced isolation.
Now comes instead the long-awaited announcement from around the world, here are the requirements for travel starting next Feb. 21:
- Visitors should be fully vaccinated, it is not yet clear whether the booster will also be required or whether the double dose will suffice
- A pre-departure swab will be required. A PCR test within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours of departure
- There will be no testing or quarantine requirements upon arrival. You will be able to move all over Australia except for the western area, which will continue to remain in lockdown; it is closed to even most Australians
In conclusion
Australia's decision will certainly have an important impact on the strategies of neighboring countries, starting with New Zealand. However, there is one very important fact to keep in mind. Australia has been one of the most stringent nations in protecting itself and its citizens from Covid-19; this decision is a step toward a new approach to the pandemic, similar to the one brought forward by Singapore last fall when decided it was time to start living with the Coronavirus..
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