World

Australia might keep borders closed throughout 2021

Published

Monday, January 18, 2021 11:42

Stock photo by Josh Withers for UnSplash

It might be a while until tourists can visit Australia. Borders might not be fully reopen until at least 2022. Australia is rolling out its immunisation program next month, but even if most of the population is vaccinated against Covid-19, the Australian government says it will probably wait to make sure the vaccine prevents the transmission of the virus before fully reopening borders.

Australia’s borders are only open for citizens, residents, those with family in Australia and travellers who have been in New Zealand for the previous 14 days. All incoming travellers must quarantine for 14 days unless they come from an area classified as a “green safe travel zone.”

There are currently 1,881 active Covid-19 cases in Australia, according to Worldometers. No local Covid-19 cases were reported today. Since the start of the pandemic, Australia has reported more than 22,000 local cases and 909 deaths related to Covid-19.

The state of New South Wales is a main focus for Covid-19 prevention measures at this stage and some neighbouring states have imposed travel restrictions on those from the state. NSW state Premier Gladys Berejiklian floated the idea about allowing venues in the area to ban entry to those who aren’t vaccinated against Covid-19.

“Already airlines have indicated that if you’re not vaccinated you can’t travel overseas and I think that’ll be an incentive to a lot of people… We’ll also consider whether we allow venues … make up their own rules if they have a business or run a workplace about what they feel is Covid safe.”

SOURCE: Aljazeera

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18 Comments

dispensed

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:17 pm

Imagine how they’ll react when they grow up and realize that people were dying BEFORE 2020.

9 million deaths from hunger
9 million deaths from air pollution
7 million deaths from tobacco

Fear of covid is a sign of low intelligence. These are people who need to be spoon fed their beliefs by the media.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Monday, January 18, 2021 at 12:23 pm
  
  In Australia?
  
  I don’t think so … that would be the entire population 🙂 🙂 🙂
  
  Maybe you need to look a little closer to home for a sign of low intelligence if that’s anything to go by 🙁
  
  Reply
Jason

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 2:52 pm

Agreed John. I’m still here 🙂 I’m always bemused by these comments. I think they are usually made by 20 somethings who are the most likely to get infected with Covid (also the least likely to die from it) and the most likely to pass it on to their parents and grandparents (because of a cavalier and self centered attitude) who are far more likely to die from Covid.

Deaths from hunger, air pollution and smoking will always be with us….. sadly…so will murders, drink driving and any number of other causes of death.

If the these wise and intelligent persons want to be cavalier, then go somewhere far away from me. I value my life and those whom I love.

Reply
- dispensed
  
  Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 10:19 am
  
  “Deaths from hunger, air pollution and smoking will always be with us….. sadly…so will murders, drink driving and any number of other causes of death.”
  
  Well that was about the least intelligent thing posted on the Lieger yet.
  
  Do you think science will EVER discover a cure for hunger???
  
  I propose scales outside restaurants. “I’m sorry sir, you’re too fat. You can’t come in. It’s for your own safety and the safety of others.”
  
  Reply
Jason

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 3:43 pm

I am concerned about Worldometer’s accounting of Australia’s active cases. From memory, it was 1813 “active cases” and yet the reality (backed up by the sources it listed) was less than 300. I’m concerned other countries are led to believe that our situation is worse than it really is.

Reply
Issan John

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 3:45 pm

I mentioned this in passing to a local Thai friend who’s married to an Australian and who normally lives in Aus, but she came back here a month ago to see her father.

She had a similar view, that it’s only prevalent among a small minority in Aus and then only in a small demographic while an increasing majority have a lot more consideration for others.

Reply
Jack Sombra

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 4:42 pm

“There are currently 1,881 active Covid-19 cases in Australia, ”

If you are using that as a source hand in your journalist credentials. There are currently 203 active cases in Australia according to Australian department of Health, took all of 60 seconds to find that out

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Monday, January 18, 2021 at 8:58 pm
  
  To be fair to The Thaiger, you’ve edited out “according to Worldometers” from your quote, which is a little bit disingenuous.
  
  Reply
Ben

Monday, January 18, 2021 at 10:16 pm

Dispensed – I think you’re an idiot. Is that low enough on the intelligence totem pole?

If this virus was killing younger healthy people at a high rate similar to the Spanish flu of 1918-1920 I wouldn’t be hearing this crap come from you. You’re disgusting.

Reply
- dispensed
  
  Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 10:24 am
  
  Thanks for admitting that this virus doesn’t kill young healthy people. That’s sort of a hallmark of a weak virus.
  
  Did you know that elderly people are at higher risk for… literally everything?
  
  You’re carrying a sad legacy to the grave, kiddo. If I were elderly, I would vehemently protest people like you trashing my legacy by painting me as a selfish brat who wants to destroy the young for a few extra months of life.
  
  Reply
Andre

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 3:05 am

Australia – the last climate denier. I wonder how it will go when no one want’s their cold anymore? Ohwww sorry I forgot, China have allready slammed a little “tax” on it.

I just remember a video about a pregnant mom getting arrested in her home in front of her kids for a facebook post about protesting against the restrictions in Australia. Australia..what’s wrong with the people “down under” – too hot “down there”?

Reply
Ronny

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 6:49 am

Well Andre most Australians are not climate change deniers and its the govt holding back not the people.
As for China and import taxes.
Thats because our govt is standing up to China and its plan to control of much of the world as possible.
Regarding covid 19 restrictions, its been harsh at times but we are basically free of covid 19 here and now live a normal life with limited restrictions.
The envy of the rest of the world. Suck it buddy.

Reply
- Kim
  
  Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm
  
  You have sold out all your mineral reserves to the china man already and suggest you look at your agricultural exports, so kindly clarify how that is standing up?
  
  Reply
- ".....free of covid"
  
  Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 11:31 pm
  
  thats a good one!
  Although, I also like very much your “….normal life with limited restrictions”
  
  Unless you are posting from inside high security prison during solitary confinement (sentenced for the crime of questioning climate change)
  
  Reply
Carl Desmedt

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:04 am

I am Belgian…My thai spouse her daughter is living in Australia…She will have her first baby in March/April…Do you think we can go to visit her…Or maybe my wife alone ?
We live in Thailand…Have been already two years ago in Australia…
Thank you..Carl

Reply
- The Thaiger
  
  Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:24 am
  
  You’ll need to contact your local Australian Embassy
  
  Reply
- Ronny
  
  Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 9:46 am
  
  I think it is unlikely Carl.
  The Govt here is only letting Australian citizens return at the moment and they have to do 14 days quarrantine. We are not allowed out of the country for recreation at all. Its very stict, the price paid for not having much covid community transmission. At least its summer here now.
  As the Thaiger says ask the Australian Embassy on compassionate grounds and see what they say.
  
  Reply
- Mr cynic
  
  Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 12:35 am
  
  Best you tell the Australian government you are a tennis player and your wife is your coach.you will then be able to visit Australia immediately and also leave the country with the minimum amount of red tape to deal with also.
  
  Reply

Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

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