Feb 7, 2022: According to a repor tby Reuters, Australia is set to welcome international travellers back nearly two years after closing its borders.

Australia will fully reopen its borders to all vaccinated visa holders from February 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, after nearly two years since the country shut itself to non-citizens to mitigate the threat of the new coronavirus.

“If you’re double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia,” Morrison said during a media briefing.

“I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world what is the requirement to enter into Australia,” he added.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday that reopening the country’s borders to international tourists may not be far off, adding that parliament would discuss the issue this week. Australia, which closed its borders in March 2020, has been going through a staggered reopening in recent months, allowing in only its citizens and residents, skilled migrants, international students and certain seasonal workers.

With the rollout of its vaccination program last year, the Morrison government has relaxed rules for Australians, long-term residents and students. Monday’s decision will eliminate almost all remaining caps. About 79% of Australia’s population has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and the country abandoned its long-standing “COVID-zero” policy last year, amid an increase in cases of Omicron.

The past week has seen a slowdown in daily infections and hospital admissions, with just over 23,000 new cases reported in Australia on Monday. On the whole, about 2.4 million cases have been recorded since the first Omicron case was detected in Australia in November. Before Omicron, Australia had counted about 200,000 cases.

The total death toll from the virus stands at 4,248 people in Australia.

The restrictions because of covid-19 have divided families, damaged the country’s large tourism industry and sometimes sparked bitter debates about Australia’s status as a modern, open and visible nation. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said it had “welcomed the decision”.

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