AusLeisure

A meeting of Australia’s National Cabinet today has seen Prime Minister Scott Morrison announce a four-stage plan which to drive the nation’s emergence from COVID-19, which he described as getting “to the other side” of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Resulting from a high degree of cooperation between Prime Minister Morrison and the state and territory Premiers, he revealed that a new deal would be linked to specific vaccination targets that will give vaccinated Australians greater freedom and which will see international travel resume.

However, Prime Minister Morrison did not reveal any timings or specify what levels of vaccinations would be required for each of the phases, to avoid snap lockdowns and border closures but he did go on to say though that modelling would determine the vaccination thresholds that need to be achieved.

The four-step roadmap goes from the current phase (‘Vaccinate, prepare and pilot’) through to a ‘Final phase’, when all restrictions on international travel will cease for all vaccinated persons and those who produce a negative COVID-19 test.

During the current first phase, restrictions will continue to be used as necessary while the vaccine is rolled out.

During this phase, the number of commercial flights to all Australian cities will be reduced by 50%, with the objective of reducing pressure on hotel quarantine due to the increased risks of the Delta variant, with this significantly reduced quarantine cap in place until at least the start of 2022. He added though more repatriation flights will go to the Howard Springs quarantine camp near Darwin.

Prime Minister Morrison (pictured below) also said that during this period the States will trial alternative quarantine options, including home quarantine for returning vaccinated travellers, adding that research showed that a vaccinated person quarantining for seven days was better than an unvaccinated person quarantining for 14 days.

He then revealed that the second phase, which he described as the post-vaccination phase, will begin once Australia reaches a threshold of vaccination to be determined by modelling and he added that the modelling would give a scientific number, not a political number.

Prime Minister Morrisonadded that it was likely the second phase would come into effect once every Australian had been offered a vaccine, which was by the end of the year, with measures then maybe including easing State-imposed restrictions on vaccinated residents, such as lockdowns and border closures, and that lockdowns would only occur in extreme circumstances.

In addition, the cap on international arrivals would be restored to previous levels for unvaccinated travellers and increase for those who were vaccinated.

The third stage which Morrison described as the consolidation phase, would see COVID-19 managed like other infectious diseases, adding that once the hospitalisation and fatality rates were in line with the flu that it should be treated like the flu, meaning no lockdowns”, with evidence from other countries already seeing this happen.

The National Cabinet agreed to formulate a plan to transition Australia’s National COVID Response from its current pre vaccination settings to one where the country begins to live with the threat of the Coronavirus. This will focus on continued suppression of community transmission, to post vaccination settings focussed on prevention of serious illness, hospitalisation and fatality, and the public health management of other infectious diseases.

National Cabinet agreed in-principle that the plan consists of the four phases, each triggered by the achievement of vaccination thresholds expressed as a percentage of the eligible population, based on the scientific modelling currently being conducted for the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Task Force.

In the current phase, lockdowns will be used only as a last resort, while in Phase B there will be an easing of restrictions on vaccinated residents - such as lockdowns and border controls. In Phase C there will be no lockdowns and vaccinated residents will be exempted from all domestic restrictions.

Prime Minister Morrison told reporters “if you get vaccinated, you get to change how we live as a country … you get to change how you live.”

Related Articles

2nd July 2021 - Hamilton and Come From Away cast and crew members stood down without pay during Sydney lockdown

30th June 2021 - State lockdowns sees all 18 AFL clubs relocate to Victoria

29th June 2021 - NSW lockdown sees school holiday visitation to Snowy Mountains fall by 70%

29th June 2021 - EEAA refocuses lobbying and advocacy on accelerating COVID vaccination process

27th June 2021 - Rise in Coronavirus cases sees NSW Government introduce two-week lockdown for Greater Sydney and surrounding areas

20th June 2021 - Vaccines to play a key role in leisure industry recovery

16th June 2021 - COVID-19 lockdown sees AFL move Melbourne fixtures to Tasmania

15th June 2021 - Tripadvisor research reveals COVID-19 vaccines driving global tourism demand

11th June 2021 - National Aquatic Industry Committee advises on conditions for swim teachers, lifeguards and instructors affected by Victoria’s lockdowns

3rd June 2021 - Victorian lockdown impacts the aquatic industry

2nd June 2021 - Theme park tickets and airline rewards offered as incentives for vaccination uptake

27th April 2021 - Australia Government to fast-track COVID-19 vaccines for Olympic team athletes

23rd April 2021 - Perth’s snap three-day lockdown sees closure of aquatic centres, gyms and theatres while sport to proceed without fans

1st April 2021 - Queensland Government ends Brisbane’s lockdown but Easter tourism still impacted

30th March 2021 - 70% of Australian casual workers more likely to get COVID-19 vaccine if it’s recommended by employer

29th March 2021 - Greater Brisbane to enter three-day lockdown after new COVID-19 case

18th March 2021 - A third of global gym members unlikely to return to clubs after COVID vaccine

12th March 2021 - Vaccinations will determine ‘return to normal’ after COVID

10th December 2020 - Australians look forward to introduction of COVID-19 vaccine

9th December 2020 - LPA calls for Business Interruption Fund to protect entertainment sector against future COVID-related shutdowns

1st December 2020 - Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies gets approval for COVIDSafe Plan for shows

26th November 2020 - Melbourne Convention Bureau reports solid performance despite impact of COVID-19 

12th June 2020 - Australian Prime Minister moves forward relaxation of Coronavirus rules to allow crowds to return to sport and entertainment

25th March 2020 - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces new measures aimed at slowing spread of Coronavirus

18th March 2020 - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison halts international travel and bans indoor gatherings of over 100

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.