NSW Covid updates: Regional and international travel returns

Hotel quarantine is scrapped, international travel is back, families across NSW can now reunite and booster shots are here. These are all the major Covid changes now in effect.

Australians can finally travel internationally after more than 20 months of strict border rules while families across NSW, Victoria and the ACT can now reunite.

Here are all the major Covid rule changes in effect from today.

AUSTRALIANS CAN TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY AGAIN

Fully vaccinated Australians and permanent residents with itchy feet can finally leave the country without a special exemption for the first time in 20 months.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed last week the need for an exemption to leave Australia would be scrapped from November 1.

“It’s time to give Australians their lives back. We’ve saved lives. We’ve saved livelihoods but we must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country. And we must work together to achieve that goal,” Mr Morrison said.

But you’ll have to prove you’ve received a TGA-approved vaccine to leave the country and to return home.

Australia remains closed to international travellers however Mr Morrison announced overnight that Australia would “sling its doors open” in just three weeks, allowing tourists from Singapore into the country without quarantine from November 21.

Emotional reunions with returning travellers who no longer need to quarantine on arrival to Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Sydney’s international terminal is a hub of activity today. Picutre: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

NSW SCRAPS INTERNATIONAL HOTEL QUARANTINE

Thousands of stranded citizens, family of citizens and permanent residents can now return to Australia without quarantining at home or in hotels.

Sixteen international flights will arrive at Sydney Airport’s international terminal today, bringing home some of the 46,800 stranded Australians overseas.

There will be no need for quarantine in NSW if you’re fully vaccinated

It marks an end to almost 600 days of restricted travel after flights were paused on March 20, 2020.

There have been emotional reunions at the airport today with families able to hug their loved ones at the international arrivals hall for the first time in 20 months.

Emotional reunions at the Sydney arrivals hall. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

it has been almost 600 days since citizens were able to freely arrive in Australia without quarantine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

It was scenes of joy and relief for Ms Moon Hyeydung as the first flights from Singapore landed early at 5:45am.

The young Korean National was swooped up by her Australian boyfriend as she exited the gate and handed an enormous bouquet of red and white roses.

The pair were grinning widely behind their masks as they headed home for the first time together since the pandemic.

Unvaccinated citizens returning Australia will need a special exemption and are required to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine. There will be a cap on unvaccinated arrivals.

It comes as flight caps for each state have also been scrapped, but for the moment tourists and other visa holders like international students are still banned unless they receive special permission.

REGIONAL TRAVEL RESUMES IN NSW

Regional and rural NSW will start welcoming back local tourism from today, with unrestricted domestic travel back on across the state for fully vaccinated residents.

Regional travel had been delayed for two weeks after previously being announced at the 80 per cent double vaccination rate. However, the reopening was pushed back to November 1 to allow vaccination rates outside Sydney to climb.

“I know for many people in Sydney and some in the bush, this will be an unpopular decision, but we are elected to make the right decisions and I believe the decision we have made today with our cabinet committee is an important one, and ultimately the right decision,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said when announcing the delay.

QUARANTINE SCRAPPED BETWEEN NSW AND VICTORIA

Travellers heading across the NSW and Victorian border in either direction won’t have to quarantine anymore, with 14 days in hotel isolation scrapped as of November 1.

NSW Health announced the changes in mid-October, while Victoria followed suit days after. But the quarantine-free announcement is only for people who are fully vaccinated.

The change also means anyone currently in hotel quarantine who is fully vaccinated can leave today.

COVID BOOSTER SHOTS BEGIN IN NSW

NSW’s Covid booster program begins today. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

NSW’s Covid-19 booster shot program will begin from today, with third jabs rolling out to eligible adults.

Pfizer jabs will be available on Monday for people who had their second jab at least six months ago, according to NSW authorities.

NSW residents will get Pfizer for their third jab “regardless” of which vaccine they had for their first and second doses.

The third jab won’t be mandatory, but you can book in to make an appointment from today at various vaccination hubs.

Originally published as NSW Covid updates: Regional and international travel returns