Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[PineappleSkip]

So QLD only requires a RAT as a pre-departure test for international arrivals?

I'm not 100% certain, but tourists are not allowed into Australia currently, and that isn't changing with QLD anytime soon.

Entry requirements to Australia like pre departure testing (PCR currently required) and the categories of people who can come in are decided by the Federal Govt.

States can impose requirements once people have entered Australia. Qld requires a test of some sort a few days after arrival, RAT was mentioned, but detail yet to come.

Backpackers (on a working holiday visa) are now permitted entry. That is one class of tourism that has opened up.

Travel to Australia for fully vaccinated eligible visa holders​

From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders, including Working Holiday Makers (subclass 417 and 462 visa holders) can come to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.

Hopefully, run of the mill foreign national Australiophiles, who are always welcome, will be let in pretty soon. There is no real reason to keep them out any more.

cheers skip

 

[FoothillFlyer]

"Sorry, didn't mean to offend which I think I did. We need holiday makers and Australia is no longer the golden child for Covid anymore."

No offense taken at all. I was sincere, not snarky. Holiday makers is a good description of us. We have an intense professional legal practice in California and Australia (FNQ) is where we have relaxed and enjoyed Australia every year since 2004, until this happened. We are in withdrawal! Again, I appreciate that this forum is where I can get the most recent news and where members go out of their way to offer helpful information.

 

[antycbr]

Australia is no longer the golden child for Covid anymore.

The US has just declared us "red" which is the highest level of risk.

Ironic, yes, when they have 750K cases on a 7 day moving average basis.

 

[Pushka]

The US has just declared us "red" which is the highest level of risk.

Ironic, yes, when they have 750K cases on a 7 day moving average basis.

And it's not like they can travel here freely anyway.

 

[Pushka]

"Sorry, didn't mean to offend which I think I did. We need holiday makers and Australia is no longer the golden child for Covid anymore."

No offense taken at all. I was sincere, not snarky. Holiday makers is a good description of us. We have an intense professional legal practice in California and Australia (FNQ) is where we have relaxed and enjoyed Australia every year since 2004, until this happened. We are in withdrawal! Again, I appreciate that this forum is where I can get the most recent news and where members go out of their way to offer helpful information.

Thankyou. And when Australia welcomes all people back it will be a wonderful time. And FNQ is in desperate need of travellers. And backpackers. Workers. Money.

 

[Mattg]

Agree, but wouldn't they have to be seasonal workers rather than backpackers to get in at present?

The border is open to working holiday (417) and Work and Holiday (462) visa holders and has been since last month. The government has also just announced that it will rebate these visa fees for people who arrive within the next 12 weeks.

 

[dajop]

I'm not 100% certain, but tourists are not allowed into Australia currently, and that isn't changing with QLD anytime soon.

With the exception of tourists who are citizens of Japan, Singapore or South Korea travelling directly from their country.

 

[kamchatsky]

Good news, looks like we can use RATs rather than PCRs to fly back ....

Australia to accept RATs from inbound travellers in major overhaul

Inbound travellers will no longer need an expensive PCR test before they travel to Australia and wait times for those who catch COVID overseas and are now clear will be halved.

www.smh.com.au

 

[antycbr]

The SMH is reporting:

The Federal Department of Health is finalising substantial changes to give returning travellers the option of completing a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours before their flight, rather than having to take an expensive PCR test within three days as is currently required.

Australia to accept RATs from inbound travellers in major overhaul

Inbound travellers will no longer need an expensive PCR test before they travel to Australia and wait times for those who catch COVID overseas and are now clear will be halved.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Pushka]

The SMH is reporting:

The Federal Department of Health is finalising substantial changes to give returning travellers the option of completing a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours before their flight, rather than having to take an expensive PCR test within three days as is currently required.

Australia to accept RATs from inbound travellers in major overhaul

Inbound travellers will no longer need an expensive PCR test before they travel to Australia and wait times for those who catch COVID overseas and are now clear will be halved.

www.smh.com.au

Do used RAT have an expiry date on them? Do they fade away? How on earth can the identity of person taking the test and time frame be proven? Stat Dec maybe? Or is this just a means of making it seem like there is some kind of control of import of Covid when in reality, there isn't.

 

[drron]

The US has just declared us "red" which is the highest level of risk.

Ironic, yes, when they have 750K cases on a 7 day moving average basis.

As Australia's 7 day moving average if translated to the USA population would only come to 850K.

 

[Scr77]

You little ripper! This is a great step forward. Just need the detail. Hopefully, it doesn’t have to be done at a clinic.

 

[andye]

Dilemma involving altruism and economics: bird-in-the-hand of an expensive 72h PCR at risk of discovering an asymptomatic infection on a cheaper RAT at 24h.

 

[oznflfan]

You little ripper! This is a great step forward. Just need the detail. Hopefully, it doesn’t have to be done at a clinic.

One MAJOR less thing to worry about for UK trip in June. Hell, maybe squeeze a week in France in March too. Woo Hoo!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Dilemma involving altruism and economics: bird-in-the-hand of an expensive 72h PCR at risk of discovering an asymptomatic infection on a cheaper RAT at 24h.

Chances of an asymptomatic positive are low on a RAT. Low enough to shop around if it were to happen, I suspect.

 

[levelnine]

You little ripper! This is a great step forward. Just need the detail. Hopefully, it doesn’t have to be done at a clinic.

Has to be medically certified. No DIY tests accepted.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Has to be medically certified. No DIY tests accepted.

The announcement hasn't been made yet. Is this inside goss? The article hints otherwise when it refers to $10 for a RAT, but I wouldn't place much reliance on that.

Cheers skip

 

[levelnine]

The announcement hasn't been made yet. Is this inside goss? The article hints otherwise when it refers to $10 for a RAT, but I wouldn't place much reliance on that.

Cheers skip

Nation records highest death toll for the pandemic following grim two weeks of rising numbers – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

According to the new rules, incoming passengers can meet entry requirements with:

a certificate provided by a medical practitioner that ... the person was tested for the coronavirus known as Covid‑19 using a rapid antigen test ... and ... the result of the test was negative.

 

[Pushka]

Nation records highest death toll for the pandemic following grim two weeks of rising numbers – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

So now we have to find a GP to give us the test. PCR likely easier.

 

[RAM]

So now we have to find a GP to give us the test. PCR likely easier.

...and possibly cheaper.