Australia's international border restrictions have been extended until February 2022 amid ongoing concerns over the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The extension of the human biosecurity emergency period – which has been in place since March 2020 – allows the Commonwealth government to keep “important” COVID suppression measures in place.
“These arrangements have been a significant contributing factor in Australia’s success in avoiding the catastrophic effects of COVID-19 seen in many other countries,” Mr Hunt said in a statement on Friday. “The human biosecurity emergency period ensures the appropriate legislative powers are available to the Australian government as further information is gained and understood about Omicron, as well as to protect vulnerable communities in Australia,” he said.
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