NSW recorded 135 new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths as the border reopened to international travel as planes flew into Sydney nearly 600 days since Australia shut down its international borders. Victoria also opened up to quarantine-free international travel despite another four deaths recorded in the state, along with 1,471 new local cases.
Flight QF12 touched down at Sydney Airport from Los Angeles at 6am, with no border or quarantine restrictions for the fully vaccinated passengers on board.
There were family reunions and “Welcome Home” signs for the arrivals.
In the current delta outbreak, 304 deaths were recorded in the state, and a large portion of these (at least 40) have been from Melbourne’s Greek community.
Despite the deaths and the 21,959 active cases in the state of Victoria alone, the high vaccination rate with more than 80 per cent of the state double vaccinated has allowed for international arrivals without needing to undergo two weeks of hotel quarantine for the first time in 18 months.
Australians may now leave the country, without an exemption.
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“The national plan is working; the Australian public have been keeping their side of the deal, which means the national plan is enabling them to regain the things that COVID has taken from them,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Borders are also due to drop between states for the fully vaccinated. Western Australia will allow the fully vaccinated to enter from NSW, Victoria and the ACT from this Friday.
Queensland is still shy of the 80 per cent first-dose milestone, despite Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s calls for Queenslanders to be vaccinated before the state’s borders open on 17 December.
In Queensland, pop-up clinics have opened at Surf Life Saving clubs from the Gold Coast to Cairns, as well as at high schools and theme parks in an effort to increase figures.
