Australia won the first phase of pandemic, along with several other island countries. The virus was contained by strict border and lockdown restrictions. Life has been fairly normal for the past year and a quarter. They are now in the final phase of the long-term, and the Prime Minister of the nation laid out a plan for reopening that could take years. It won't take as long, I don't think.Many Australians were prevented from returning to their homeland due to restrictions on the number of immigrants who could enter. People were also unable to leave the country, so they had to be separated from their families. There were also sporadic epidemics and mitigation measures.However, Australia is now losing the next phase of the pandemic, just like other countries in similar situations. They have largely failed to complete their vaccination rollout. A large portion of the population is not vaccinated and therefore vulnerable to the disease. The United States and Europe are returning to normal life, but Australia is facing lockdowns again and has little chance of leaving the country (or for some, returning).Recent lockdowns have been seen in New South Wales, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as in Perth, Brisbane, and Alice Springs. Now, Australia is reducing the number of people who are allowed to enter the country under 14-day quarantine.The country has a plan to reopen. It seems absurd, but then you consider that every time that politicians place more restrictions on the country their popularity actually increases.To limit the potential virus carriers, reduce arrivals from Australia, which is likely to happen through 2021. Allow more Australians home and allow them to quarantine for 7 days at their home instead of 2 weeks in a state managed facility (2022). Eliminate travel restrictions for vaccinated citizens (date unknown). Allow unvaccinated visitors to visit without restriction and vaccinated visitors to undergo a testing program.This plan could mean that it would take 2024 for people to travel to Australia if it were implemented. This could mean that non-residents cannot visit their family members in Australia. However, Australians can visit them by departing the country in 2023.It is sensible to use cautious language at the moment, as the country is more susceptible to the Delta virus of the disease than others and because it will be difficult to prevent it from spreading to other countries. The mRNA vaccines will arrive in large quantities later this year. If the country does not blow its vaccination program, Australians will be well protected. There won't be much reason to be concerned by the time they enter phase 2.Mass vaccination should be done in conjunction with seasonal variations in the virus. They will quickly see that they aren't at risk of spreading. As the world moves on, time goes by, the people will feel less and less isolated. I predict that international travel will reopen faster than the current framework projects.
