In the absence of an effective coronavirus vaccine, chances of Australians being allowed to travel to the northern hemisphere appear slim to none for the whole duration of 2021, according to reported plans of the Morrison government.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Minister for Tourism Simon Birmingham revealed travel for Australians could be reopened with New Zealand by the end of 2021.

But Senator Birmingham’s statements imply that destinations in Europe and the United states will remain off the cards if a COVID-19 vaccine is not found next year.

Instead, the New Zealand travel bubble will be the precursor for an opening up to other Asian and Pacific nations, with the Australian government targeting “low risk” countries for virus transmission.

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“We are beginning to open up to New Zealand because of their similarly strong COVID outcomes and it may be possible to do likewise with other low risk nations.”

New Zealanders will be able to visit New South Wales and Northern Territory destinations already from October 16, with a reciprocal quarantine-free travel arrangement with the country expected before the end of 2020.

“However, the prospects of opening up widespread travel with higher risk countries will remain very reliant on effective vaccination or other major breakthroughs in the management of COVID,” Senator Birmingham said.

The reasoning behind the tentative plan is that reopening international travel routes “can’t be done at the expense of our health and economic strength at home”.

Senator Birmingham refrained from providing details on countries potentially eligible for two-way travel bubbles further down the track, but according to government sources cited by the masthead these could include Japan, Singapore and Pacific Island nations.

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The grim update for Australians eager to see overseas travel routes reinstated comes amid rising infections in the northern hemisphere, which health experts estimate will increase even more during the winter time ahead.

Several European countries appear to be experiencing a new wave of infections with the total number of cases in the continent having surpassed the 6 million mark.

Averaging over 10,000 new cases in the past few days, Spain reinstated a partial lockdown in its capital Madrid, declaring a state of emergency again.

Meanwhile, France marked a record day of over 20,000 new infections, while Germany reporting daily tallies of more than 4,000 new patients might also be heading to reinstating further restrictions.