Australian passports will be linked to vaccination certificates, Qantas will refuse to fly unvaccinated passengers abroad, home quarantine will be introduced and road trips will be offered again.
A picture of what travel will look like for Australians is emerging as NSW announces its lockdown timetable and the federal government points to the future.
Domestic traffic will return to New South Wales once the state hits its 70 percent target, Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian said Thursday.
Ms. Berejiklian hopes that interstate travel will resume when 80 percent of the nation is double-dosed.
The Prime Minister said she believed international travel would resume after that 80 percent target was met in line with the national plan.
However, travel abroad is ultimately a matter for the federal government – which has banned international outbound flights until at least December 17th and has only just begun to outline the way forward.
International travel is not expected to resume until Australia hits its 80 percent double vaccination target – but a picture is emerging of what it will be like
In a taped speech on Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison pointed out that Australians stuck overseas can return later this year and be quarantined at home.
“We look forward to welcoming many people back home soon. We can get there this year, ”said Mr. Morrison.
It is believed that expats may be allowed to be quarantined if they are fully vaccinated with a vaccination approved by the country’s medical regulator.
These include AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, but other globally popular vaccines like Sinovac and Sputnik are excluded.
A 50-person home quarantine attempt is underway in South Australia using continuous facial recognition and location technology that requires people to film themselves in their quarantine area with 15 minutes.
Although criticized as an invasion of privacy, this plan is expected to be adopted at the national level.
The federal government has released a plan for Covid vaccine passports for market launch.
International vaccination records are issued in October. Details remain vague.
It is expected that vaccination information for people entering the country will be automatically linked to Australian passports.
QR codes are likely to play a role for travelers abroad.
Qantas confirms they will ban all unvaccinated passengers from traveling on international flights as the airline hopes to fly Aussies abroad from December
The airlines hope to resume international travel in November at the earliest, with people stranded in Australia free to return home, including to London
A spokesman for cabinet minister in charge of digital and data policy, Stuart Robert, said more details will be announced shortly.
“The Morrison government continues to work on vaccine safety standards, which will be an element to enable vaccinated Australians to move and travel more freely,” he said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the national carrier Qantas confirmed it will ban all unvaccinated passengers from traveling on international flights as the airline hopes to launch Aussies overseas by December.
The company’s CEO Alan Joyce said Thursday the mandate is to keep passengers safe as vaccination reduces the chances of the virus being transmitted and spread.
“Qantas will have a policy that we only carry vaccinated passengers internationally,” said Joyce.
NSW Reveals New Restrictions On Pubs, Restaurants And Gyms And What To Do To Get A Haircut As Gladys Berejiklian Confirms Roadmap Out Of Fully Vaccinated Lockdown After The State Recorded 1,405 New Covid-19 Cases
New South Wales has released its Freedom Day timetable once 70 percent of the adult population is vaccinated and pubs, restaurants, shops, gyms and swimming pools open.
However, the freedoms apply only to the vaccinated, masks will remain common across New South Wales, employers will have to keep employees working from home, and people who are fully vaccinated may still face local lockdowns.
Ms. Berejiklian and her treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced on Wednesday that the penalty restrictions will finally be lifted on Monday after the state hits the 70 percent double dose target.
It’s the first real lockdown roadmap Australia has seen, with the country’s two largest states and the ACT under tight restrictions.
There is no set date for Freedom Day, which is set in stone, although reports this week point to October 14th or 18th as likely.
Ms Berejiklian said the QR code system for businesses will be able to check whether customers are vaccinated or not.
People who are not vaccinated or who do not want to link their medical history to a government app can only access “critical” services.
“If you want to buy something, hang up your QR code,” said the premier. “If there isn’t a green light to say you will be vaccinated, you will not be let in.”
In the meantime, domestic travel is opening for New South Wales and it is expected that Australian expats returning home will be able to go into quarantine in the coming months.
Meetings in the house
According to the plan, up to five visitors are allowed in a home where all adults are vaccinated (excluding children under 12).
Up to 20 people can gather outside.
Bars and restaurants
Pubs and restaurants are allowed to reopen after the rule of one person per four square meters indoors and one person per two square meters outdoors.
Standing while drinking is allowed outside.
businesses
Shops are only allowed to reopen to vaccinated people according to the one-person-per-four-square-meter rule.
Unvaccinated people will only have access to “critical retail stores,” said the NSW premier.
Hairdressers and nail salons
“Personal Services” will be reopened with the rule of one person per four square meters with a limit of five customers per location.
Gyms and recreation
Fitness studios and indoor leisure centers can reopen with classes of up to 20 people according to the rule of one person per four square meters.
Swimming pools are allowed to reopen.
Major events and entertainment
Outdoor venues such as stadiums, racetracks, theme parks, and zoos can reopen at one person per four square feet with a limit of 5,000 people.
Up to 500 people can take part in outdoor events with tickets and seats.
Indoor venues such as cinemas, theaters, music venues, museums, and galleries can reopen with one person per four square meters, or 75 percent of the fixed seating capacity.
Weddings, funerals and places of worship
Up to 50 guests are allowed to attend weddings, where dancing is allowed and eating and drinking is only allowed while seated.
Up to 50 guests can attend funerals where people eat and drink while sitting.
Churches and places of worship are usually opened by one person per 4 m² without singing.
job
NSW employers must continue to allow their employees to work from home when employees can.
Masks
The mask requirement remains in place for all indoor public spaces, including public transport, restaurants, retail and business premises, in airplanes and airports.
Hospitality personnel must wear masks outdoors.
Schools and children
Children under the age of 12 do not need to wear a mask.
Schools will reopen on October 25th.
children
Unvaccinated adolescents under the age of 16 have access to all outdoor facilities, but can only visit the indoor areas with members of their household.
isolation
The NSW government will change its recommendation for close and casual contacts that are fully vaccinated.
However, these rules will not be clarified until closer to the reopening date.