That seems to be a reasonable assessment.

New Zealand is an obvious starting point, almost there now.

Bali bubble? Fiji bubble?

I think Bali will be one of the last places on earth that Oz open up to.

Why? The Island can easily be controlled, in fact the local authority there is talking about a bubble around the resort area of the island.

I would think the US, India and Brazil are probably more risk.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Surely one criteria for international destinations to open as "bubbles" is direct flights, no transit. So the Perth to London flight would be great except the UK is awash with Covd19.

Sorry. I spilt my rum and coke.

Awash? The numbers are well down. A million tests done on a day last week and around 0.5-1% of tests coming back positive. Some way to go, but by late spring we will be back in a much better place.

Danny, that is still “awash” by Aus standards...

I love that thinking and it makes perfect sense. It is however still Indonesia with the inherent problems attached. It would be fantastic if places like this could find a way.

Alas until Straya can get its own ****e together and keep all interstate borders open, ZERO CHANCE. Oooohhhh 3 cases in Kuta, righto all Aussies that were in Kuta you now have XYZ requirements on top of ABCDEFGH requirements that you already had prior to leaving.......... Just like being on a flight to Darwin from Melbourne when mid-flight it was decided you left a hot spot.

I just can't see international travel until there is no requirement for quarantine on return. For holiday makers until that time it is a holiday plus 14 days and $2500+.

Open all domestic borders, keep them open with confidence and pump the hell out of domestic tourism and keep fingers crossed for New Zealand for winter, otherwise its the Southern Alps for the snow.

UK: 4700 new cases this week, 65 deaths this week. Total deaths 125,000
Australia: 100 cases, 0 deaths this week. Total deaths 909.

Population UK: 66.6 million
Population Australia: 25.4 million

66.6/25.4 = 2.6

Yes, I would call that awash despite the "numbers are well down".

The UK is well and truly trending in the right direction though.

It’s time to look forward and find a way out, and cut out this sort of alarmist language like “awash”. The media have cultivated this type of fear throughout this pandemic unfortunately.

I agree with you. In the context of my comment about travel bubbles, they are awash compared to many, many other states.

The last surveillance data last week came back roughly to 1 in 250 having the virus. Meaning that 249 in 250 do not have it. Trending in the right direction for sure but not there yet.

But we have a vaccine in the arms of a third of the population which has high efficacy after one shot of almost eliminating severe disease and significantly reduces transmission.

No one is doing the level of testing of the UK. Nor anywhere near the amount of genomic sequencing. Testing has actually reduced in the USA or never been in the same league in many western states.

With all the coverage of Harry and Meghan, I thought covid was over.

Agree. Who would have thought ‘B grade American actress marries all round good guy with castle and hates MIL’ would take up the first 10 mins of the news last night....
I know, the right thread is over on JB.......

why is the US still so inept with dealing with this? Totally dysfunctional public health system? Complete lack of personal discipline due to whatever Amendment they want to quote?? Or just their utter insularity in all things global??

Quarantine for international arrivals.

A friend of a friend of a friend (it is a rumour network) heard that DFAT are working on quarantine possibly being required for a further 18 months to 2 years.

Hopefully not (& needs to be verified) but something to keep in mind

It is clearly a very popular policy. Why not keep it going forever? Keeps out all ailments and everyone in Oz can spend their hard earned in Oz. What's not to like?!

I think most would assume the current level of quarantine to the last quarter of this year. After that there may be loosening of restrictions in a phased return to a pre Covid norm, it may involve travel bubbles, it may involve home quarantine, it may involve quarantine only from certain countries with high infection rates. Whatever will happen will probably happen in gradual phases. DFAT also may want to keep the quarantine structure on standby in case there’s a significant outbreak somewhere in the next two years.

So yeah, I’d say DFAT having at least a quarantine framework as a backup for up to two years is something they’d consider. Doesn’t necessarily mean it will be two more years of the international border being closed exactly as it is today.

I hope you’re being sarcastic...
Sorry if I’m a bit thick at the moment.
Some of us actually had international careers ended by this virus. (Not just flying). Why would you wish that for ever?

I think the NSW premier is spot on with what she says here. That is how I feel anyway.

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6238116721001

Of course I’m not. Australian money for Australian people only. Tourist attractions, sporting events, jobs and universities should only be for the locals. Of course we can let in rich people, movie, sports and pop stars - they actually contribute unlike the little people.

It’s the year 2035 and WA has just entered its 24th lockdown having kept cases down to just 46 since the pandemic started. The locals are lauding it up, but the Goose is confident that the big 25 foot high wall that is along the domestic border will be able to come down eventually as cases globally completely diminish. Qantas have dumped all of their A380s as the route from Brisbane to Cairns struggled to make any money for them.

I believe this is a very interesting time and an amazing opportunity for Australia to concentrate purely on its own people to provide the business/ tourism etc. I am actually hoping that Australia becomes less reliant on international people and more reliant on its own people. I'm glad there's a drain in certain professions and industries....let's fill it with Aussies. I'm glad there's a shortfall in tourism...let's promote Aussies to fill the void...etc etc. This is a self-sufficient country so let's take advantage of it