National cabinet has backed new international and domestic travel measures to strengthen COVID-19 protections in response to the growing threat of a highly infections UK coronavirus variant.
Greater Brisbane has also been declared a “coronavirus hotspot” at the Commonwealth level, after a cleaner tested positive for the UK variant – sending the city into a three-day lockdown.
Under the changes, passengers flying into Australia must return a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure.
Masks will also be made mandatory on all domestic and international flights and at domestic airports in Australia – excluding children 12 and under.
“This virus continues to write its own rules, and that means that we must continue to be adaptable in how we continue to fight it,” Mr Morrison said.
The caps on international arrivals returning to Australia have also been reduced in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland by 50 per cent.
The revised cap in New South Wales will fall to 1,505 people per week, in Western Australia to 512 and in Queensland to 500 people.
Victoria will also continue to have a capacity of 490 people each week – after this was previously reduced following the state’s second wave of the coronavirus.
Mr Morrison said 80 per cent of Australians registered overseas are now in countries where the new variant is evident.
More to come.
