MELBOURNE: Australia has extended a ban on residents leaving the country through December 17 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The extension of the emergency period was informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee,” a statement from Health Ministry said. “AHPPC has advised that the international and domestic Covid-19 situation continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk. The extension of the emergency period is an appropriate response to that risk.”
The country’s so-called Human Biosecurity Emergency Period has been in effect since March in the hopes of controlling the transmission of the virus. Residents must get government approval to get around the ban.
Residents of other countries, offshore freights and boats, essential workers and government officials have been exempted from the ban.
The period also places restrictions on the entry of cruise ships into Australia.
Australia is fighting a new wave of coronavirus cases, with 127 new Covid-19 cases confirmed on Thursday, pushing the national total to more than 26,000, with 678 deaths.