Australia will keep its borders closed until 2021.

According to Mr. Birmingham, it is likely that people will still be banned from traveling abroad, unless they are on a special exemption list. However, the government will seek to ease entry rules to welcome international students and long-term residents, but they will have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Previously, the Australian government had spoken about plans to establish "safe travel corridors" to New Zealand and other countries that have controlled Covid-19. However, Mr. Birmingham said people should not have too high hopes for this project. The head of the Department of Tourism said the Australian government still prioritizes the health of its citizens.

While borders remain tightly controlled, Mr. Birmingham also urged people to consider a stay-at-home holiday. Australians spent over $65 billion on international holidays in 2019. The government wants a similar amount to be spent on domestic holidays instead. Senator Birmingham said that those who can afford to travel at this time should feel it is a "patriotic duty".

Australia is one of the countries that has successfully contained the spread of Covid-19. One of the measures implemented to control the situation was restricting international travel and enforcing strict social distancing and quarantine rules. Australia has over 7,300 Covid-19 cases and 102 deaths. The sharpest increase in infections occurred in April, mostly in Victoria, the second most populous state.

Huong Thao