COVID-19: Australia reopens international borders after 2 years

Australia has fully reopened its international borders on Monday, allowing vaccinated travellers into the country close to two years after coronavirus-linked restrictions were imposed.

With over 50 international flights scheduled to land in Australia during the day, the country is hoping to revive its tourism and hospitality sectors, which took a severe battering since the start of the pandemic. Several families were also reunited after one of the strictest lockdowns in the world.

"It is a very exciting day, one that I have been looking forward to for a long time, from the day that I first shut that border right at the start of the pandemic," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Australia switched its COVID prevention strategy from extreme suppression with relentless lockdowns to living with the virus after achieving high vaccination levels. Over 94% of people over 16 are now fully vaccinated, according to officials. The country's gradual reopening of borders started in November when skilled migrants and international students were allowed to fly into Australia.