Aus to revoke India travel ban for citizens

Australia will not extend a controversial ban on citizens returning from Covid-hit India, the Prime Minister said on Friday following widespread public outrage. Scott Morrison this week barred all travel from India, fearing a large number of Covid-positive arrivals would overwhelm Australia’s quarantine facilities. The move stranded an estimated 9,000 Australian citizens and threatened them with large fines and jail time if they tried to dodge the ban and return on non-direct flights. The conservative Prime Minister on Friday said that the measures would remain in place until May 15 as planned, but then repatriation flights could resume. Three flights are being planned to return the most vulnerable Australians still in India, bringing them to a remote Outback quarantine facility. No decision has been taken yet on whether commercial flights will also resume.