Australia Covid Update

Today the National Cabinet met to provide an Australia covid update, including revised policies affecting international arrivals. As Australia tries to suppress the Covid-19 virus, the recent Sydney outbreak and vaccine rollout were also deliberated.

An overview of the policy changes are outlined below. You can read the full media statement on the Government website.

Changes to international arrivals

Passenger Arrivals

All airlines have been informed that international air passenger arrival caps will be temporarily halved by 14 July 2021.

By 12.01am Wednesday 14 July 2021, the following arrangements will apply until 11.59pm Tuesday 31 August 2021:

New South Wales – 1,505 per week (215 per day);
Queensland – 650 per week (including surge capacity);
Victoria – 500 per week;
South Australia – 265 per week; and
Western Australian – 265 per week.

After 31 August 2021 these numbers will be reviewed and decided in accordance with the current Covid climate.

Facilitated commercial flights

The number of facilitated commercial flights (FCFs) into Darwin for quarantine have been increased. To support returning Australians to access flights, 29 FCFs are being arranged for July and August. Registered Australians in the UK will be contacted directly by the High Commission about these flights.

Vaccine and quarantine status

Vaccination status declaration

The Commonwealth will update the Australian Travel Declaration (ATD) from 16 July 2021 to include information on inbound arrivals vaccination status. This will include date, country, brand and dose of COVID-19 vaccination.

Home quarantine arrangements

National Cabinet agreed to commence National Cabinet pilots of home quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers who had been vaccinated in Australia, with an Australian approved vaccination, arriving from low and medium risk countries.

Under the trial, fully vaccinated travelers will still have to spend two weeks in quarantine, but at their residence. The Government is hopeful this will take pressure off the hotel quarantine system.

South Australia has committed to commence the first trial, however there is no definite timeframe as to when this will start.