With lockdown lifting today in Victoria the state’s government has more good news, announcing international borders will reopen to fully vaccinated travellers without quarantine requirements from 1 November.
In addition, there will no longer be a cap on fully vaccinated returning Australians wishing to enter Victoria, as long as they demonstrate their vaccination status to the Commonwealth with a vaccine approved or recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Arrivals will also be required to test negative to COVID-19 within 72 hours of their departure and must undertake testing within 24 hours of arrival in Victoria.
At the same time, Victoria will cap the number of unvaccinated or unverified international travellers at 250 per week - they will also still be required to undergo two weeks of quarantine.
“The Commonwealth's new quarantine facility at Mickleham is under construction and is on track for becoming operational in January to house unvaccinated arrivals, as emergency accommodation following natural disasters such as bushfires or for use in future pandemics,” the Victorian government said.
“With our first-dose vaccination rate at 90 per cent and growing every day, these changes will help our returning Australians come home safely while preserving our health system and ensuring Victorians can still get the healthcare they need when they need it most.”
1 November also coincides with the date Victorians will be permitted to travel internationally without having to seek an exemption from the Commonwealth Government.
Victoria came out of lockdown at 11.59pm last night after hitting 70 per cent double-dose vaccination. The next milestone in the Roadmap will be when Victoria hits the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target, which is predicted to be the first week of November.
“Victorians have achieved something incredible, and I couldn’t be prouder. Thank you, Victoria,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“Today’s welcome news was made possible because of the hard work Victorians did to get vaccinated. With our first-dose vaccination rate at 90 per cent, we’ll open Victoria’s vaccinated economy – and we can’t wait to welcome the rest of the world.”
Updated at 1.10pm AEDT on 22 October 2021.
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