After nearly two years, Australia to reopen borders to travellers from February 21

"If you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Representational Image (Reuters)

SYDNEY: Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday (February 7, 2022) announced that the country will fully reopen its borders to all travellers vaccinated against Covid-19 from February 21.

"If you're double vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia," Morrison said during a media briefing.

Australia, which shut its borders in March of 2020, has been going through a staggered reopening in recent months, allowing in only its citizens and residents, skilled migrants, international students and certain seasonal workers.

Australia has nearly 95% of the eligible population aged 16 and over double-vaccinated against the coronavirus and nearly nine million people with more than two doses.

This infographic provides the total number vaccine doses, including daily booster and paediatric doses (children 5-11) administered in Australia  as of 6 February 2022.

To see a more detailed breakdown of Australia’s vaccination program, visit  https://t.co/lsM33j9wMW pic.twitter.com/j6kLcyycMx

— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) February 7, 2022

The government currently requires all international travellers to be vaccinated or provide evidence of a medical vaccination exemption to enter the country. It is noteworthy that while the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Covid-19 keeps spreading, hospitalisations and deaths have been stabilising in Australia.