Australia is set to scrap even more travel restrictions put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the country reaching the grim milestone of 10,000 deaths.
From midnight on Wednesday, travellers will no longer be required to declare their vaccination status or obtain a travel exemption to enter or leave the country.
It comes after Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly advised it was no longer needed.
“The chief medical officer has advised it is no longer necessary for travellers to declare their vaccine status as part of our management of Covid,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said changes to the Biosecurity Act will help to reduce delays at our airports and also encourage more people to travel down under.
“This is great news for families coming home from school holidays who now don’t need to use the DPD (Digital Passenger Declaration)” Ms O’Neil said.
“Removing these requirements will not only reduce delays in our airports but will encourage more visitors and skilled workers to choose Australia as a destination.
“And for Australian citizens, with the removal of these requirements, returning home will be much easier.”
The changes were announced on the same day Australia hit the grim milestone of 10,000 COVID-19 deaths.
It also comes despite Queensland currently experiencing its third wave of the virus, prompting suggestion mask mandates may be making a comeback.
However, the State’s Health Minister on Sunday confirmed that was not the case.
“I don’t have any recommendations from the chief health officer here in Queensland to do that,” Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said.
“But we do remind people as we go through this third wave that they can make those decisions for themselves.”
