Australia prepares to require arriving international passengers for certification that they are vaccinated against Covid-19, as authorities outline possible virus protection restrictions in the future 'new normal'.
Health Minister Greg Hunt indicated in an interview that vaccination, and a tight two-week quarantine, will be necessary conditions for entering Australia.
"We expect people who will arrive in Australia while Covid-19 continues to be a significant disease around the world to be vaccinated or go into isolation," he said.
"With the promising results of vaccine trials, Australians could start receiving doses as early as March," he added.
Meanwhile, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced that departing international travelers will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to fly with the national airline once the vaccine is available to the public, adding that similar rules will likely be adopted. on a global scale.
The digital vaccination passport 'will be contained in a smartphone app.
As for domestic flights from Qantas and low-cost affiliate Jetstar, Joyce said any decision will depend on the virus infection rates in various parts of Australia.
Since March, Australia has substantially closed its borders from the rest of the world, with a general ban on entry to non-residents and with strong recommendations to citizens against any travel abroad.
The country has had relative success in containing the coronavirus, recording so far, out of a population of 25 million, just over 27,800 cases and 907 deaths since the pandemic spread.
