Sydney to welcome quarantine-free international travel

 

File image: Traveller 

Australian state officials are planning to allow vaccinated travellers unrestricted entry into Sydney from November.

But the plan for no-quarantine travel into Australia's largest city still needs federal approval.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is yet to respond to the New South Wales plan announced on Friday.

But if approved, it would accelerate the return of travel into Australia for the first time since the pandemic.

"We are opening Sydney and New South Wales to the world and that date will come in on November 1," said Premier Dominic Perrottet.

"We want to be able to say to the world that we treat everybody equally, and if you are fully vaccinated you can engage in this wonderful state."

Australia has kept its international borders shut since March 2020. It has allowed entry almost exclusively to citizens and permanent residents who have had to do mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine at their own cost.

Last month, Mr Morrison indicated that the border rules would change in November - to allow Australians to leave the country and make it easier for those overseas to return.

Source BBC