Feb 21, 2022, 07:07am
Australia reopened its borders to international travelers for the first time in nearly two years on Monday, ending one of the longest border closings since the start of the Pandemic.
A mascot welcomes passengers at the airport.
The majority of international flights were expected to land in the city.
The travelers were greeted by Australian Tourism Minister Dan Tehan who gave them Koala toys and Australian snacks like Tim Tams chocolate cookies and jars of Vegemite spread.
All arriving passengers need to be double-vaccinated under Australia's Covid rules.
The full reopening was delayed by the arrival of the highly-infectious omicron variant, but other measures taken late last year included allowing the entry of students and skilled workers, as well as special travel arrangement with New Zealand and Singapore.
The reopening of the border on Monday marks the end of all Covid-19 measures put in place by the Australian federal government.
There were 17,726 new Covid-19 cases in Australia on Monday, and 2,408 people are hospitalized with Covid-19.
93.35%. According to a tracker run by the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia is one of the most highly vaccined nations in the world. Australia is rolling out booster doses to its population at a rapid rate, with almost 50% already having received an additional shot.
Australia relied on some of the world's most stringent travel restrictions to eliminate the spread of Covid-19 within its borders. After facing persistent Covid-19 outbreaks last year, the country switched over to a strategy of living with Covid and rapidly vaccinating more than 90 percent of its eligible population. The United Kingdom and Singapore have different degrees of success with the same strategy. The approach could be premature and the proponents may be painting an overly rosy picture of what Covid looks like.
Tourism Australia Managing Director Phillipa Harrison and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan arrive for a press event.
Australia is welcoming fully-vaccinated international travelers for the first time.
A man hugs his granddaughter at the airport.
Passengers are welcomed by a mascot at the airport.
A family gets together at the airport.
The loved ones embrace at the airport.
A passenger is welcomed at the airport.
A passenger is greeted at the airport.
Australia welcomes tourists with toy koalas.
Australia reopened its borders after two years.
Live updates on the coronaviruses.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
