International borders have officially reopened.
It was announced in early February that the Commonwealth Government would reopen borders on Monday 21 February, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 1.2 million people are ‘visa’d up’ and ready to come.
In a press conference on Sunday 20 February, Mr Morrison said the reopening would be a major boost for the tourism sector.
“The tourism industry has really borne the brunt of this Covid pandemic, not just here but all around the world, and particular parts of the country have felt it more than others,“ Mr Morrison said.
“That’s why I’m excited to know that we’re going from Covid-cautious to Covid-confident when it comes to travel.
“And that is also true and we’re seeing that around Australia increasingly as our borders open up, we’re pushing through again. It’s been tough, but Australia is pushing through.“
In 2018-19, tourism generated more than $60 billion for the Australian economy, with more than 660,000 jobs dependent on the industry.
Since the reopening started on Monday 1 November 2021, 580,000 arrivals have come to Australia.
The reopening deliberately coincided with a $40 million tourism campaign which Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison said was vital in attracting people back to the country.
“Don’t Go Small. Go Australia is about reminding travellers whether they are dreaming of discovery or looking for relaxation – Australia is the perfect destination for an epic adventure,” Ms Harrison said.
It was also announced on Saturday 19 February that final preparations were underway at the Victorian quarantine hub with the facility accepting its first residents on Monday 21 February.
With a 1000-person capacity, the hub will become Victoria’s sole quarantine site from April as hotel quarantine is gradually phased out.
As well as unvaccinated travellers, the facility can accommodate eligible Covid-positive community members who cannot isolate at home, such as healthcare workers.
It could also operate as emergency accommodation after natural disasters and it will be critical in any future pandemics.
The hub is made up of cabin-style accommodation with entry and exit points via outdoor decks, so the virus cannot spread through shared corridors and other internal spaces.
Unlike hotels, which needed to be retrofitted to meet quarantine and ventilation requirements, the hub has been designed with infection prevention and control at the heart of all its operations.
The accommodation is split across four separate and secure villages. Services and amenities such as electronic food ordering and entertainment limit unnecessary movement to minimise contact between staff and residents.
The site will include ventilation systems designed by experts and CCTV monitoring of the villages. It will be managed and secured by Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria and Victoria Police.
Monday 21 February also marks the day the Novavax vaccine became available to Victorians aged 18 years and over.
The vaccine will be available through selected state-run centres, including the Sandown Racecourse Vaccination Clinic in Springvale by appointment only, as well as GPs and pharmacies – in total it will be available through more than 400 general practices and community pharmacies.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommends the Novavax vaccine be given in two doses at least three weeks apart.
It becomes the fourth vaccine approved for use in Australia after AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna but is currently not available for children.
Unlike Pfizer and Moderna, Novavax is a protein-based vaccine, not an mRNA vaccine.
Health Minister Martin Foley continued to emphasise the importance of getting jabbed.
“For a small number of people, this will be the extra push they need to get vaccinated. With bookings now open, now is the time to go and get a jab,” Mr Foley said.
“Getting a Covid-19 vaccine will help protect you and your family from getting seriously ill. If you’ve been sitting on the fence, please get vaccinated – it’s important for all of us.
Bookings for Novavax are now open. Victorians can call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or book online via portal.cvms.vic.gov.au. Appointments at GPs and pharmacies can be made at health.gov.au
