COVID: Australia in talks over quarantine-free travel

Australia’s government says it is in talks with several nations about quarantine-free travel, but warns that Europe and the US will not be on the list.

The first agreement would be with New Zealand, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Other nations that could follow suit are Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Pacific Island nations.

Australia closed its borders in March, early into the pandemic.

To date, it has recorded 27,263 cases and 898 deaths.

It has fared better than other nations but recently saw a second wave in the state of Victoria, forcing Melbourne and its surrounding areas into another lockdown. Infections have fallen dramatically since.

From Friday, New Zealanders will be able to travel to some Australian states – New South Wales, Canberra and the Northern Territory – without having to quarantine. But they will have to quarantine in a hotel upon their return home.

Mr Morrison said he had spoken about travel bubbles with his counterparts in Japan, South Korea and some Pacific nations, while Foreign Minister Marise Payne held talks in Singapore.

“But we have to go cautiously on this – very very cautiously. Covid-19 hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still there. And no less aggressive today than it was six months ago,” Mr Morrison said.

It came as Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham warned that travel to high-risk areas such as the US and Europe was unlikely to happen until late 2021.

(Source: BBC News)