Australia "From July 1, Vaccinated Individuals Can Travel Abroad Freely"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Australian government announced that starting next month, COVID-19 vaccinated individuals will be allowed to travel abroad freely, and border restrictions will be eased. Australia, which recently surpassed a 70% vaccination completion rate, plans to implement a full-fledged "With COVID" (gradual return to normal life) strategy, including freedom of travel and border reopening. However, some concerns have been raised that the spread of highly transmissible variant viruses, following the Delta variant and now the Delta Plus variant, may intensify the resurgence of infections.

On the 27th, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated in an interview with local broadcaster Channel 7, "From November 1, Australian citizens and permanent residents who have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations will be able to travel overseas freely without separate permission," emphasizing, "Thanks to the high vaccination rate, the normalization plan is progressing well."

Until now, Australian nationals were unable to travel abroad for over 18 months without government permission due to quarantine measures, and Australians living overseas were also unable to enter the country due to entry restrictions. The Australian government announced that it will also exempt vaccinated individuals arriving in Sydney and Melbourne from quarantine obligations, thereby accelerating border reopening.

Earlier, Australian health authorities announced that as of the previous day, the vaccination completion rate among Australians aged 16 and older eligible for COVID-19 vaccination exceeded 74.1%. The rate of first-dose recipients reached 87.1%. When the Delta variant began spreading in early June, Australia's vaccination rate was around 10%, but it has significantly increased due to the government's strong vaccination policies.