Australia’s Borders Reopen After 2-Week Pause Amid Omicron Concerns

After a two-week halt due to worries about the omicron COVID-19 strain, Australia’s borders have officially reopened to skilled workers and international students.

Newly arriving visa holders are relieved to be in Australia, two years after international borders were blocked during the outbreak of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, fully vaccinated skilled workers and international students no longer need to obtain a travel exemption to enter Australia.

Key Takeaways:

• After a two-week pause due to worries about the omicron COVID-19 strain, Australia’s borders have reopened to skilled workers and international students.
• At the same time that the rest of the world is tightening theirs, Australia is lowering its limitations.
• Fully vaccinated skilled workers and international students do not need a travel exemption to enter Australia as of Wednesday.

Because of omicron, Australia is reducing its limits at the same time that the rest of the world is tightening theirs.

According to the government, around 235,000 visa holders, including an estimated 133,000 international students, would now be eligible to enter the country.

The start of a travel bubble with Japan and South Korea, as well as the reopening of Tasmania’s border to vaccinated persons from the rest of Australia, takes place on Wednesday.

People traveling to Tasmania from specific high-risk areas must, however, pass a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arriving. Unvaccinated individuals will still need to seek a travel exemption to enter the country.

In New South Wales, virus restrictions have been eased, allowing unvaccinated people to enter retail and hospitality establishments.

After NSW observed a huge increase in infections owing to omicron, there have been concerns that the decision to open up to the unvaccinated will lead to an even bigger spike in COVID-19 cases in the state.

On Tuesday night, NSW stated that fully vaccinated immigrants from the eight southern African countries will no longer need to stay in a hotel for 14 days, bringing all international arrivals into compliance.

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