![]() ![]() The centre of Australia’s outbreak is the Sydney suburb of Bondi, which has been linked to more than 120 cases, including some detected as far away as Perth, almost 2,000 miles away. “It would be, I think, unwise to surrender up that advantage at this point, and preferably at no point,” Morrison said. Photograph: Carly Earl/The GuardianĮvery returned traveller leaving the strict quarantine system will be required to a take a Covid test two to three days after leaving quarantine, as will their close contacts in those days.Īfter the crisis meeting with state leaders, Morrison dug in behind Australia’s strategy of suppressing Covid, insisting he was not “prepared to countenance” any reopening of Australia or relaxation of rules that would lead to deaths rates similar to those in other countries. People queue for vaccines in Homebush, Sydney. The scheme in effect opens the door for Australians under 40 to now receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if they request it, despite official advice recommending Pfizer for anyone aged 60 and under.Īustralians under 40 have so far been shut out from the Covid vaccine rollout as a result of concerns over blood clotting and a shortage of vaccines besides locally produced AstraZeneca jabs, in which the government has invested heavily. On Monday the prime minister, Scott Morrison, met state and territory leaders and agreed on a raft of new measures to keep up with the spread of the Delta strain, including even more stringent quarantine rules, as well as a no-fault indemnity scheme for all local doctors administering Covid vaccines. The outbreak has renewed questions about Australia’s stuttering vaccination programme and limited quarantine facilities, both of which are responsibilities of the federal government.Īustralia has one of the lowest vaccination rates of any developed country, with less than 5% of the population fully vaccinated, and it has only one dedicated quarantine facility, using hotels for other returned citizens. ![]() This regime is coupled with extraordinary restrictions on its citizens returning to or even leaving the country. The scale of the outbreak is tiny compared with those in some other countries, but Australians have lived a charmed life for much of the pandemic because of the rigid rules that are often implemented at the first sign of the virus. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |