Travel ban extended again

AustrAliA’s COVID-19 emergency measures have been extended for a further three months, bringing the cumulative air and cruise travel shutdown to 21 months in total.

The human biosecurity emergency period will now be extended until 17 Dec, having been in place since 18 Mar 2020.

Health Minister Greg Hunt’s statement yesterday was a carbon copy of previous announcements, saying the decision was once again “informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, which has advised the international COVID-19 situation continues to pose an unacceptable risk to public health”.

The move extends the four emergency determinations including mandatory predeparture testing and maskwearing for international flights, restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels within Australian territory, restrictions on outbound international travel for Australians, and restrictions on trade of retail outlets at international airports.

In response to the move, Cruise Lines International Association Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz lambasted the Government’s lack of consultation on the issue.

“Our discussions with government agencies have gone nowhere and our letters to the most senior levels of government have gone unanswered,” Katz said, adding Australia needs to put an end to its period of inaction on a cruise resumption.

“Other countries have not only created detailed plans to uphold safety on cruise ships in response to the pandemic, but have already resumed cruising in a responsible way,” he said.