Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[dajop]

Can I clarify please? Australian citizen, living overseas for 10 months and fly to Australia (quarantine for 2 weeks), 2 weeks visiting relatives, then exit back to overseas. Exemption to exit needed?

Your guess is as good as mine. In theory, no. Presumably as they initially departed under exemption to move permanently (from memory you've discussed the departure 10 months ago?) , it should be easy to see they had an exemption to leave permanently then and the 12 month (rather than 24 month) rule applies.

Have pasted below from relevant part of home affairs site, highlighted the ambiguous bit in red.

Ordinarily resident​

You are considered ordinarily resident in a country other than Australia if international movement records show that you’ve spent more time outside Australia than inside for the last 12 to 24 months. You do not need to carry a paper record of your movements with you. If required, Australian Border Force officers at airports can check your movement records in their systems.

If you do not think you need a travel exemption, you can present this evidence when you check-in at the airport. However, if you have any doubt about whether your circumstances fall within the definition of ordinarily resident, we recommend you lodge a request for assessment at least two weeks prior to your intended departure.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interestingly I have been corresponding with a Federal Member about the Travel ban and exemptions and inconsistencies. He stated today that everyone requires an exemption. Even in the situation described above. I have sought clarification from him and referred him to the ABF website.

Non residents aren't required to get an exemption.

I guess the presumption is that an Aussie passport holder would likely be a resident, so the extra checks may be required.

 

[dajop]

Interestingly I have been corresponding with a Federal Member about the Travel ban and exemptions and inconsistencies. He stated today that everyone requires an exemption. .

He's correct - everyone needs an exemption. But there are exemptions that people in certain groups are automatically granted (including those not ordinarily resident in Australia). Referred to on the website as "automatic exemptions". i.e. Not every has to apply for an exemption.

 

[Pushka]

He's correct - everyone needs an exemption. But there are exemptions that people in certain groups are automatically granted (including those not ordinarily resident in Australia). Referred to on the website as "automatic exemptions". i.e. Not every has to apply for an exemption.

His words “However, they are still required to apply for an exemption in order to leave the country.”

 

[dajop]

His words “However, they are still required to apply for an exemption in order to leave the country.”

Well then, he's definitely wrong. Speaking from experience.

 

[SydneySwan]

From the experience of colleagues and friends, if you are leaving on a foreign passport then departing is easy. If you are leaving on an Oz passport be prepared to provide evidence that you live overseas and politely explain their own rules to Border Force.

 

[dajop]

From the experience of colleagues and friends, if you are leaving on a foreign passport then departing is easy. If you are leaving on an Oz passport be prepared to provide evidence that you live overseas and politely explain their own rules to Border Force.

Have not had to provide evidence thus far (twice) the primary check seems to be your immigration history. Thankfully have not had to explain anything to Border Force, but check-in agent has had to have multiple calls to them to get the OK.

 

[Pushka]

Well then, he's definitely wrong. Speaking from experience.

Quite appalling when the politicians supporting their own legislation and controls don’t actually have an understanding of their practical application.

 

[Lynda2475]

Denmark opening up to the vaccinated

Good news i was meant to travel there last year. Notice they only recognize 4 vaccines though "Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson" not all the WHO approved ones like Sputnik and Siniopham. Which was to be expected, since WHO approvals are for emergency use only and have a efficacy qualifier much lower than developed nations would be likely to tolerate.

 

[SydneySwan]

Good news i was meant to travel there last year. Notice they only recognize 4 vaccines though "Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson" not all the WHO approved ones like Sputnik and Siniopham. Which was to be expected, since WHO approvals are for emergency use only and have a efficacy qualifier much lower than developed nations would be likely to tolerate.

No reason not to accept Sinopham as it has WHO approval but Sputnik has not been approved by WHO yet.

Russia expects WHO to approve Sputnik V vaccine within two months -RDIF

Russia expects the World Health Organization (WHO) to approve the Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus within two months, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which markets the vaccine, told Reuters.

www.reuters.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No reason not to accept Sinopham as it has WHO approval but Sputnik has not been approved by WHO yet.

Russia expects WHO to approve Sputnik V vaccine within two months -RDIF

Russia expects the World Health Organization (WHO) to approve the Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus within two months, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which markets the vaccine, told Reuters.

www.reuters.com

I would feel more comfortable with a vaccine that has been tested under robust scientific, media and public scrutiny.

 

[kamchatsky]

No reason not to accept Sinopham as it has WHO approval but Sputnik has not been approved by WHO yet.

Russia expects WHO to approve Sputnik V vaccine within two months -RDIF

Russia expects the World Health Organization (WHO) to approve the Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus within two months, Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which markets the vaccine, told Reuters.

www.reuters.com

Well even Chinese authorities admit their vaccines are not most effective. WHO's bar is very low, so I don't think a lot of governments would accept this.

China's top disease official considers overcoming poor vaccine efficacy by mixing COVID-19 shots

Available data shows Chinese vaccines lag behind others including Pfizer and Moderna in terms of efficacy, but require less stringent temperature controls during storage.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Lynda2475]

No reason not to accept Sinopham as it has WHO approval

No it has emergency use approval, not full approval. Data out of Brazil seems to indicate the Chinese vaccines do not perform as well. I cant find any evidence of the Chinese vaccines receiving approval (emergency use or full) in Europe or North America. Just because WHO allows emergency use does not guarantee that sovereign nations will accept it as good enough.

 

[dajop]

No it has emergency use approval, not full approval. Data out of Brazil seems to indicate the Chinese vaccines do not perform as well. I cant find any evidence of the Chinese vaccines receiving approval (emergency use or full) in Europe or North America. Just because WHO allows emergency use does not guarantee that sovereign nations will accept it as good enough.

Of course it may depend on aims. Some countries may be happy with reduced efficacy in symptomatic infection to get vaccines into their people quicker, as long as it prevents hospitalization. By the look of it, from this perspective Sinovac is the better performer (preventing hospitalization), although not so good at preventing symptomatic infection.

From WHO on Sinovac:

A large phase 3 trial in Brazil showed that two doses, administered at an interval of 14 days, had an efficacy of 51% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, 100% against severe COVID-19, and 100% against hospitalization starting 14 days after receiving the second dose.

From WHO on Sinopharm:

A large multi-country Phase 3 trial has shown that 2 doses, administered at an interval of 21 days, have an efficacy of 79% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection 14 or more days after the second dose. Vaccine efficacy against hospitalization was 79%.

The trial was not designed and powered to demonstrate efficacy against severe disease in persons with comorbidities, in pregnancy, or in persons aged 60 years and above. Women were underrepresented in the trial. The median duration of follow-up available at the time of evidence review was 112 days.

Two other efficacy trials are under way but data are not yet available.

 

[roogirl]

Denmark opening up to the vaccinated.

Denmark Has Reopened For Fully Vaccinated Visitors

Denmark has greatly eased entry requirements for fully vaccinated visitors from the EU, Schengen, OECD, and Yellow countries.

loyaltylobby.com

Sorry my read of that is that if you live outside the EU you cannot enter Denmark without a “worthy purpose” and still need to test & isolate. Not exactly open….

 

[SydneySwan]

Sorry my read of that is that if you live outside the EU you cannot enter Denmark without a “worthy purpose” and still need to test & isolate. Not exactly open….

That is not correct. Australia is a yellow OECD country so fully vaccinated can enter without a worthy purpose and without the need to quarantine. Of course being able to leave Australia is another issue ....

It is a forward step to see countries taking vaccination status into account whereas our government has its head firmly buried in the sand.

 

[roogirl]

Ah yes I am looking at it from the perspective of most of us who are Orange.

 

[DC3]

It is a forward step to see countries taking vaccination status into account whereas our government has its head firmly buried in the sand.

…. Hiding under the doona in Canberra, I read somewhere.

 

[hb13]

It is a forward step to see countries taking vaccination status into account whereas our government has its head firmly buried in the sand.

Don't worry - the government here in the UK is even worse. It's like the vaccines don't even exist it is absolutely infuriating. At least the Aus government has now put forward some sort of pilot scheme that may possibly occur.

In the UK, nothing - travel restrictions are getting worse and being vaccinated means absolutely nothing. It's pathetic.

 

[Lynda2475]

So ABC blog is reporting NSW doing a international student arrival trial within next 8 weeks. a small inaccuracy though, claiming purpose built accommodation, the proposal plans to use high rise student accommodation in Redfern (so yes purpose built for students, but not purpose built for Coved Quarantine and inner city not remote):

NSW welcoming back international students​

NSW will launch a pilot program to welcome 250 international students to come to Sydney every two weeks from the second half of this year.
The plan, which has been given the green light by NSW health and police, pilot plan will be the first step in welcoming students from around the world to purpose-built accommodation.

By the end of the year the program will increase to 500 students every fortnight.

The quarantine requirements, security and accommodation will be the same as those that already apply to returning travellers.

The first international students will arrive on charter flights in the next six to eight weeks, with all costs covered by the university sector.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the plan was a huge win for the economy, which had suffered a $5 billion hit as a result of the pandemic.

“International students represents our second largest export and our largest service export,” he said.

“There are close to 100,000, men and women right across the state who rely on this huge industry to support their families.

“He said Negotiations were being finalised for the location and the provider of accommodation.”

Mr Perrottet said NSW would continue to accept 3000 returning travellers through regular hotel quarantine.

“Importantly, not one returning Australian will not get seat on a plane as a result of this plan,” Mr Perrottet said.

Pre- pandemic there were around 250,000 international students studying in NSW every year, directly supporting around 95,000 local jobs.


Here is the article about the accommodation form last week:

The Block in Redfern could host NSW’s first student quarantine hub

A 24-storey tower nearing completion at Redfern’s The Block is among locations being considered as the state’s first quarantine facility for international students when they return to NSW.

www.smh.com.au