Coronavirus: Self-isolation imposed on all travellers inbound to Australia
/Effective from today, all visitors to Australia must self-isolate for at least 14 days when they arrive to prevent the spread of coronavirus. All cruise liners from foreign ports have been banned from docking in Australian for the next 30 days. The Prime Minister announced yesterday, in-step with the policies of New Zealand, to assist in “flattening the curve”, best described as avoiding a crisis of cases and overwhelming health services. A fact sheet on what is and how to self-isolate can be found at the Department of Health’s website.
Additionally, updated information provided by the Department of Home Affairs has threatened visa cancellation for any person who is not an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an immediate family member (spouse, de facto partner, minor dependant or legal guardian) of an Australian citizen or permanent resident and who comes to Australia if having been in a travel restricted country after a specific date.
These countries include:
mainland China on or after 1 February 2020
Iran on or after 1 March 2020
South Korea on or after 5 March 2020, and
Italy on or after 11 March 2020.
The exception is for some Year 11 and 12 students from mainland China.
This policy decision effectively ends the workaround of transiting to a third non-restricted country for at least 14 days, then travelling to Australia. Some Australian universities had been offering “workaround” grants, which if offered now would put these international students’ visas in danger of cancellation.