Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[jgreenspoon]

I admit it - I was in the camp 'There has never been a successful coronavirus vaccine developed' & I still hope I am proven resoundingly wrong. The bets have not been paid out just yet.

However, why do we seem to be operating by fax vs some other countries by fibre optic?

I received this email from a US drug store (chemist) a couple of days back. Despite all the criticism of the US on CV - I haven't seen anything like this within Australia. I do hope the 'distribution plan' won't be a re-run of the 'comprehensive National Aged Care CV plan' that's still missing in action.

View attachment 233659

Has anything been contracted within Australia (other than for one drug maker to have to handle the logistics of getting it to locations across the country) for administering the vaccine(s) to people?

I posted a while back that all ahpra registered nurses and midwives have been contacted to see if they are eligible to become part of the vaccine administration effort. Many of them have the certification to do so in the out of hospital environment and do so for flu vaccines for example into large private businesses.

the bigger issue will be maintaining an official immunisation register as a component of this as there’s no need for this with the flu vaccine

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The elephant in the room is really when will insurance companies start selling comprehensive travel insurance again? Will being vaccinated allow access to a complete policy or will they maintain complete exclusion on anything covid related?

Some will choose to self insure, some will go without, but I'd suggest the majority will be beholden to the outcomes of the insurance conversation; something that, in public at least, doesn't appear to have started.

At least two airlines (might be three now?) offer free comprehensive covid insurance. Pax would need separate insurance for everything else in the event covid was still excluded. Whether or not countries will accept airline insurance is another question.

 

[RAM]

Quarantine free? Nope... Hence my point about once the passenger gets to landside they are in the hands of the state....

That is going to be the rate limiter.

My response was to your statement about imagining how long it will take Qld & WA to deal with international arrivals - not domestic.

It's interesting... CVS says they will be distributing the vaccine according to prioritisation guidelines... but doesn't say it is free. Is it free in the US? Or like all other things, is it dependent on having healthcare?

The major pharmacies already supply the flu vaccine. I guess you could use those existing networks if it came to that?

What is free.....?

For example a number of supermarkets advertise 'free flu vaccine' but you need to either have heathcare or be covered by medicaid or be on social security/retired. Long term tourists need not apply and they appeared to have massive supplies on hand (in 2019).

In some states testing is free in others you co-pay & others you just pay.

Within some states it depends on the city. For example on the Big Island they have 'free' testing which is sponsored by local businesses.

One positive for Australia (now vs up until June) virtually anyone can turn up for a test although at the PoW hospital located Clinic - it depends on who you get with several people who'd gone for testing in the last 3 weeks reporting hearing other people (20-40yr olds) getting turned away for 'not feeling right' or explanations to that effect - not acceptable as a reason for getting tested.

 

[jakeseven7]

And again the states will be a MASSIVE handbrake on any kind of 'pre-vaccine' international travel resuming in any major way.

WA again repeating its threat it will shut all borders domestically and take no interational repatriation if the Federal government opens international border that they do not agree with. QLD has said similar. A 2020 style of blackmail....

Australians would be furious if we saw domestic borders go back up and I don't think the Feds will risk it.

-----
WA warns Morrison again over relaxing any international borders


Western Australia has warned it won't hesitate to slam its border shut again if the Morrison government relaxes restrictions on international travellers.

WA warns Morrison over relaxing borders

Premier Mark McGowan says he will close Western Australia's borders again if the Commonwealth government lifts restrictions for international travellers.

thewest.com.au

My response was to your statement about imagining how long it will take Qld & WA to deal with international arrivals - not domestic.

It's ok you just missed the point

 

[oznflfan]

The elephant in the room is really when will insurance companies start selling comprehensive travel insurance again? Will being vaccinated allow access to a complete policy or will they maintain complete exclusion on anything covid related?

Some will choose to self insure, some will go without, but I'd suggest the majority will be beholden to the outcomes of the insurance conversation; something that, in public at least, doesn't appear to have started.

I'd figure whilst WHO still declare this a global pandemic, no travel insurance. Once global pandemic over, and it will happen, all policies should be back to normal. May find premiums will jump once this happens for insurance companies to use additional premiums to offset potential costs.

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

View attachment 233659

Has anything been contracted within Australia (other than for one drug maker to have to handle the logistics of getting it to locations across the country) for administering the vaccine(s) to people?

of course not because like most things downunder the official administration process seems to be run by like a one horse town, NDIS for the wife - nearly a year to kick in, immigration 25 months for something that would have had 0 red flags, its all on their timetable, shut up and look at the beach until we decide to give you x the only things i have seen put together with any alacrity was jobkeeper (what a mess that is even now, and i have put about 100 clients through the process) and locking down peoples rights.

 

[oz_mark]

WA warns Morrison again over relaxing any international borders


Western Australia has warned it won't hesitate to slam its border shut again if the Morrison government relaxes restrictions on international travellers.

WA warns Morrison over relaxing borders

Premier Mark McGowan says he will close Western Australia's borders again if the Commonwealth government lifts restrictions for international travellers.

thewest.com.au

Just some beating the chest. I don't think the federal government have suggested anything terribly dramatic on the international border front.

 

[jakeseven7]

Just some beating the chest. I don't think the federal government have suggested anything terribly dramatic on the international border front.

Yea maybe but I don't think so look at the reaction to the SA outbreak..... sigh

 

[ayushamity]

Yea maybe but I don't think so look at the reaction to the SA outbreak..... sigh

Yep. I am mentally preparing to go overseas in March next year when a more 'reasnable' neutral counry opens borders after a vaccine, stay there with my fiance for a few months and come back to Australia later in the year when incoming arrival caps ends.

Yes. It is extreme and I have to quit my job and go overseas. But haven't see my fiance since Feb and if I l leave it in the hands of the fed gov, I won't see her until 2022.

The hope is that Vietnam accepts vaccinated travellers so I can go there once have vaccine and spend a few months there.

The clincher is that as part of my job, I goin and out of aged care facilities multiple times a week so I should be able to be considered as a high risk transmission vector for immediate vaccination

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Yep. I am mentally preparing to go overseas in March next year when a more 'reasnable' neutral counry opens borders after a vaccine, stay there with my fiance for a few months and come back to Australia later in the year when incoming arrival caps ends.

Yes. It is extreme and I have to quit my job and go overseas. But haven't see my fiance since Feb and if I l leave it in the hands of the fed gov, I won't see her until 2022.

The hope is that Vietnam accepts vaccinated travellers so I can go there once have vaccine and spend a few months there.

The clincher is that as part of my job, I goin and out of aged care facilities multiple times a week so I should be able to be considered as a high risk transmission vector for immediate vaccination

Just to ask rhetorically, I’m guessing you’ve looked into your fiancé migrating as a spouse. The rules of admission were family of Australian citizens and permanent residents.

 

[ayushamity]

Just to ask rhetorically, I’m guessing you’ve looked into your fiancé migrating as a spouse. The rules of admission were family of Australian citizens and permanent residents.

Yeah. She applied for a Prospective Marriage Visa in August this year and while the application and paperwork is top notch (we used a migration agent to be safe), we have been advised that the marriage visa applications are not really being looked at until Australia opens it borders.

We can try for an exemption for her to come here (which will also get the visa approved) but exemptions are very hard to come by (even if she is my fiancé) simply because there are so many aussies still stuck overseas wanting to come back.

We have tried an exemption based on medical compassionate reasons (Long Story short - I have a medically diagnosed anxiety disorder which I have been taking meds for last 15 years but the border closure has really made it worse so psychiatrist has written a pleading letter to ABF to allow for exemption as my mental health if deteriorating and have had to take stronger mood stabilizers etc.). But don't really expect anything out of it.

Fiance are not considered immediate family members unlike a wife.

The logic dictates that countries which are already covid infested have the least to lose by opening borders (like India) whereas countries which are near Covid free will not open borders and risk getting infected (like Australia). So we should target a neutral country like India to meet in (They are already partially open so hope they open further next year)

 

[CityRail]

WA warns Morrison again over relaxing any international borders


Western Australia has warned it won't hesitate to slam its border shut again if the Morrison government relaxes restrictions on international travellers.

WA warns Morrison over relaxing borders

Premier Mark McGowan says he will close Western Australia's borders again if the Commonwealth government lifts restrictions for international travellers.

thewest.com.au

It's ok you just missed the point

Then slam shut your WA borders then.

I would rather to see WA borders shut than Australians not able to travel to NZ, Singapore and Hong Kong, those countries with very low Coronavirus transmission, so that we can reunite our families.

Moreover I wonder why Australian government has been so stubborn and not let other travel bubbles overtake the Australia-NZ Travel Bubble?

I am sure if Australia opens Singapore and Hong Kong travel bubble before NZ, it will be safer. I am very concerned that the NZ travel bubble, which does not require travellers to do testing or health declaration before entry is simply a ticking time bomb for a massive community outbreak in Australia.

With Singapore/HK travel bubble, we can ensure travel bubbles are safe, as both governments will request travellers to get testing prior departure and upon arrival, as well as conducting health declaration. This will ensure travel between countries will be safe.

The time has come for our state and federal government to step up and for all interstate and international travellers get tested.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

There have been instances where pre-test and test on arrival was not enough to stop a positive test emerging. See post 7 Sewage testing detects COVID-19 on Qantas DEL-DRW repatriation flight

 

[ayushamity]

I would rather to see WA borders shut than Australians not able to travel to NZ, Singapore and Hong Kong, those countries with very low Coronavirus transmission, so that we can reunite our families.

I don't think any travel bubbles will eventuate if I am being honest. Just a whole lot of garbage being spoken to calm the crowds..

 

[CityRail]

I don't think any travel bubbles will eventuate if I am being honest. Just a whole lot of garbage being spoken to calm the crowds..

A lot of families are being separated and scattered by borders just because of these arbitrary decisions made from politicians, especially state politicians who only focus to keep their own jobs and does nothing to give hope and actually solve the problem.

Should we open our borders to NZ, Singapore and Hong Kong, those countries who have good quarantine system, we will be able to allow many more people going through quarantine in a third country to come back to Australia, which we can ensure as many as possible to return to Australia by Christmas. There are lots of student accommodation emptied and ready for hotel quarantine.

Australia also has a good testing system, yet our politicians are playing chicken and only stuck themselves under a donna when a small outbreak like SA happens. I think this has to be end.

Testing for all interstate travellers, testing at airport, use third countries to do quarantine for us, establishing travel bubbles with safe countries, together we can bring all Australians back home by Christmas, together we can bring all Australian families together by Christmas.

 

[ayushamity]

Australia also has a good testing system, yet our politicians are playing chicken and only stuck themselves under a donna when a small outbreak like SA happens. I think this has to be end.

Testing for all interstate travellers, testing at airport, use third countries to do quarantine for us, establishing travel bubbles with safe countries, together we can bring all Australians back home by Christmas, together we can bring all Australian families together by Christmas.

I hear ya

But looking at the reaction to SA outbreak today, what hope is left? They are freaking out about local outbreak. Imagine if an international traveler caused an outbreak.

I was really stressed out about the borders and pretty pissed off a month ago. But now having lost all hope, its kind of calmed me down a bit.

 

[jakeseven7]

I hear ya

But looking at the reaction to SA outbreak today, what hope is left? They are freaking out about local outbreak. Imagine if an international traveler caused an outbreak.

I was really stressed out about the borders and pretty pissed off a month ago. But now having lost all hope, its kind of calmed me down a bit.

Agree, I’ve given up all hope on international but the domestic border mess is still grating at me, my work and my family so literally cannot escape it’s daily implications.

 

[ayushamity]

Agree, I’ve given up all hope on international but the domestic border mess is still grating at me, my work and my family so literally cannot escape it’s daily implications.

You could still leave if the other country your family is from allows entry - But you can't come back to Australia and have to be mentally prepared to be stuck overseas for a few months

 

[CityRail]

I hear ya

But looking at the reaction to SA outbreak today, what hope is left? They are freaking out about local outbreak. Imagine if an international traveler caused an outbreak.

I was really stressed out about the borders and pretty pissed off a month ago. But now having lost all hope, its kind of calmed me down a bit.

The thing is that as our politicians are playing chickens, it brings a lot of uncertainty to families and businesses who needs to run on a contingency plan and as a result our economy suffers.

I think our state politicians seriously need to learn how to live COVID safe and able to manage any outbreaks.

As Gladys mentioned, we cannot open and close our borders because there are some outbreaks here or there. Even in NZ, they are not closing the entire north or south island off in the mist of the March wave. So why we are closing our borders?

 

[jb747]

The thing is that as our politicians are playing chickens...

Not playing chickens. They are chickens....