Australia Eases More Border Restrictions Ahead of the Holiday Season

Queensland has lifted its border restrictions for fully vaccinated domestic travelers on Monday, reopening for the first time in nearly five months, as Australians prepare for quarantine-free holiday travel, despite rising Omicron clusters.

Queensland, Australia's third-most populous state, closed its borders to New South Wales in July, followed by a closure to Victoria, as a precaution against the Delta variant outbreak that affected the eastern regions of the country for several months.

Now free from Covid, Queensland has surpassed its target of vaccinating 80% of residents over 16, a key condition for easing border restrictions.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared on Twitter, 'We will live with Covid – but on our terms.'

Hundreds of vehicles were seen lined up at Queensland's southern border with New South Wales, even before the border restrictions were scheduled to ease at 1 a.m., according to television footage.

Qantas, Australia's national airline, announced it would operate nearly 100 flights to and from Queensland on Monday, carrying around 10,000 passengers, most of whom had already booked their seats.

The relaxation of border controls comes just ahead of the summer school holidays, providing a much-needed boost to Queensland's vital tourism industry, which has suffered greatly from the state's previous internal travel restrictions.

On Monday, Australia confirmed it will allow fully-vaccinated travelers from South Korea and Japan to enter quarantine-free starting December 15. Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that this move was made possible due to the high vaccination rates in all three nations.

Other states in Australia are also easing border restrictions after reaching higher vaccination targets. Tasmania plans to reopen its borders later this week, while Western Australia is expected to reveal its plans on Monday. South Australia has already started welcoming interstate travelers since late November.

The Omicron variant, however, could pose a new challenge during the busy Christmas season, as case numbers continue to rise. Authorities in New South Wales confirmed on Sunday that an Omicron-positive patient had been hospitalized, with 64 cases reported statewide so far.

A Covid outbreak at a nightclub in Sydney has fueled further concerns, with 84 individuals testing positive so far. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant indicated on Monday that many of these cases are likely to involve the Omicron variant.

The emergence and rapid spread of the Omicron variant, along with its numerous mutations, has led many countries to reintroduce travel restrictions and accelerate their booster vaccination programs.