PM Scott Morrison has stated that international arrivals from selected ‘safe countries’ could potentially trade hotel quarantine for home quarantine, which means Aussies stranded overseas could return home quicker than expected.
Health officials are actively considering whether home quarantine is a viable option for international arrivals from deemed ‘safe countries’.
Since March, anybody entering Australia had to partake in a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine, which lead to flight caps being introduced, as the quarantine hotels had limited capacity. This lead to 100,000 Aussies being stuck in locations around the world, trying to get home.
However, if the ‘safe country’ home quarantine is introduced, it will have an incredible knock-on effect (as long as people who arrive do partake in the home quarantine). In theory, flight caps could then be lifted, meaning more Aussies can return home at one time and be reunited with their families sooner than expected. Airlines could start flying more regularly and reemploy their staff – meaning more industry jobs once again.
Of course, there’s also hype around the Trans-Tasman bubble and a potential Japan travel bubble too.
If all goes well, 2021 will be a much better year.
Fingers crossed for that.
‘Safe countries’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said safe countries that could avoid the now pay-it-yourself hotel quarantine (goodbye $3k per person) would include South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and countries in the Pacific.
He also mentioned that the safe countries list could include the likes of Denmark, which has a list of its own ‘safe countries’ that dictates who is allowed to enter freely.
Australia is currently on Denmarks yes list. (When we’re allowed to leave – obvs.)
Other countries that have similar arrangements to Denmark, such as the UK, and Singapore, are also taking steps towards open borders and resuming travel once more – so perhaps they’ll also be given the go-ahead.
Time will tell.
Watch this space for more details.
READ: Japan Is (Mindfully) Opening Its Borders Next Month
READ: 100,000 Aussies Are Trying To Fly Home: Why Can’t They?