Australia to ease international border restrictions from November

Australia to ease international border restrictions from November, easing one of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions imposed globally.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday, 18-month ban on Australians travelling abroad will be lifted from next month.

“Reopening the international border for citizens and permanent residents will be linked to the establishment of home quarantine in Australia’s eight states and territories.”

Australians will be able to return home and travel overseas within weeks as 80 percent vaccination targets are met.

“The time has come to give Australians their life back. We’re getting ready for that and Australia will be ready for takeoff, very soon,” Morrison said.

Officials say the state of New South Wales (NSW) is most likely to hit the 80 percent vaccine target before other states, and could become the test-bed for allowing Australians to leave the country.

“There will be a cautious and staged approach in terms of what’s undertaken,” Finance Minister Simon Birmingham stated.

Currently, the government has set a border ban until December 17. The new decision could mean that the restrictions will be lifted at least a month earlier.

Fully vaccinated Australians will be allowed home sometime in November without going through the mandatory quarantine at hotels at a cost of thousands of dollars.

Instead, they will be able to quarantine at home for seven days on their return to the country.

Unvaccinated Australians will still be required to undergo quarantine at hotels or dedicated facilities for 14 days.

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Kamila/Al-Jazeera