Australia pauses further easing of border restrictions in response to new variant

CNN

TRN Online
29 Nov, 2021

By Hannah Ritchie, Nov. 29 (CNN): Australia will temporarily pause the next phase of its border reopening plan to gather more information on the Omicron Covid-19 variant, its government announced Monday.

Based on advice from the country’s National Security Committee and Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, international skilled visa holders, student cohorts and humanitarians, holidaymakers and those holding provisional family visas will not be allowed into Australia until December 15.

Under the country’s roadmap to safely reopen borders, these groups were due to be permitted entry on December 1.

The temporary pause is effective immediately and will “ensure Australia can gather the information to better understand the Omicron variant, including the efficacy of the vaccine, the range of illness ... and the level of transmission," a statement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office said Monday.

Under Australia's current border restrictions, only fully vaccinated citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family -- as well as fully vaccinated travellers from New Zealand and Singapore -- are allowed in, with limited exemptions.