COVID-19: Australia bans arrivals from India, says offenders face Jail, Fines

Australian residents & citizens who have been in India within fourteen days of the date they plan to return home will be banned from entering Australia as of Monday & those who disobey will face fines & jail, Govt officials said.

The emergency determination, made late on Friday, is part of strict measures to stop travellers to Australia from the world's 2nd most populous nation as it contends with a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths. The decision was based on the proportion of overseas travellers in quarantine in Australia, who have contracted the infection in India, according to Health Minister Greg hunt.

"Failure to comply with an emergency determination under the Biosecurity Act, 2015 may incur a civil penalty of 300 penalty units, five years' imprisonment or both," an official statement from the Ministry said.

It further reads, “The CMO will consider the epidemiology in India & likely impacts on Australia's quarantine capacity, & provide a further expert assessment of the public health risk to Australia to inform a proportionate response".

The restrictions come into effect from May 3 & breaching the ban risks civil penalties & up to 5 years imprisonment, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement.

"Our hearts go out to the people of India – & our Indian-Australian community. The friends & family of those in Australia are in extreme risk. Tragically, many are contracting Covid-19 and many, sadly, are dying every day," Hunt said.

The Australian Govt will reconsider the restrictions on May 15, he said.

India's COVID-19 death toll passed 200,000 this week, & cases are nearing 19 million - nearly 8 million since February - as virulent new strains have combined with "super-spreader" events such as political rallies & religious festivals.

Australia, which has no community transmissions, on Tuesday introduced a temporary suspension of direct flights from India to prevent more virulent Covid-19 variants entering the country.

However, some Australians, including cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson, returned via Doha.

Hunt said that "The Government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health & quarantine systems is protected & the number of Covid-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level".

Australia has all but stamped out the COVID-19 from its shores after closing its borders to non-citizens & permanent residents in March 2020 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Travellers now have to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense, a system that has largely helped Australia to keep its Covid-19 numbers relatively low, with just over 29,800 cases & 910 deaths.

Source Link