US labels Australia a ‘code red’

The United States has warned its citizens to stay way from Australia. See border restrictions in place nationally.

The US has issued a ‘code red’ for Australia for the first time warning Americans not to travel Down Under.

It comes after the European Union removed Australia from a ‘safe list’ of countries allowed to enjoy free travel to Europe, labelling the country a ‘Covid danger zone’.

“Because of the current situation in Australia, even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants,” the US Centre for Disease Control said.

Former Labor PM Kevin Rudd said the decision was “tragic” and “humiliating”.

“Now US citizens are being warned about travel to Australia. Another stellar Covid achievement by Morrison,” he tweeted.

On Tuesday, EU travel rules for the unvaccinated were tightened further to include travellers from Australia, Argentina and Canada, in the face of soaring Covid cases and deaths.

The European Council of the European Union announced the three nations would be removed from a list of countries it recommends lifting non-essential travel bans for.

However, Colombia and China were among some countries that the European Council recommended travellers can arrive regardless of vaccination status.

Tourists fully vaccinated with European Medicines Agency approved vaccines —which include Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novavax, and Moderna — are currently able to travel to EU countries for any purpose.

EU citizens and healthcare and transport personnel are exempt from the recommended tightened restrictions.

It comes after the Therapeutic Goods Administration, in a statement on January 17, confirmed it had determined Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine would be recognised for travellers coming into Australia.

The move by the TGA comes after it officially recognised the Chinese-made Sinopharm and Sinovac jabs in late 2021.

“Last week the TGA obtained additional information demonstrating (Sputnik V) vaccine provides protection and potentially reduces the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit Covid-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to Covid-19,” the TGA noted.

“The supporting information was based on published studies provided to the TGA by the Russian Government with the assistance of the Australian embassy in Moscow.”

Meantime, nterstate travel rules are again changing as Covid case numbers continue to climb to record daily highs.

Here is a full list of travel restrictions in place across Australia.

QUEENSLAND

From 1am on January 22, vaccinated international arrivals will be allowed to fly into the Queensland without quarantining.

It come after Queensland scrapped all testing requirements for domestic border entries.

Under the changes, which took effect from January 15, domestic border restrictionsa re no longer in place for people entering from a hotspot.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NewsWire.

That means people coming into Queensland from domestic hot spots, either by road or by air, won‘t need to fill out a border form, nor will they need to provide a negative Covid-19 test result of any kind.

There will also be no requirement to quarantine.

“Now is the time for the barricades to come down, and for the police to come home, to continue on their normal operational duties on the front lines,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

However, restrictions will remain in place for international travellers until the 90 per cent double vaccination target is reached, which is expected to be next week.

People aged 16 over and who haven‘t received both doses of a vaccine will now find it easier to cross into Queensland, but once here they will find their activities heavily restricted.

A number of venues and events will continue to enforce strict vaccination requirements, meaning the unvaccinated will not be able to enter.

You can find the Queensland Health rules here.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia has closed its borders to every state and territory due to growing concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant.

However, the harsh border restrictions will finally be scraped on February 5 when borders are scheduled to be reopened.

Under the “extreme risk” border restrictions, travel is not permitted into Western Australia except under ”the most exceptional circumstances”.

“Exemptions for approved travellers will be further restricted to Commonwealth and State officials, Members of parliament, Diplomats, and specialist or extraordinary circumstances determined by the State Emergency Coordinator or the chief health officer,” the Western Australian Government said.

WA Premier Mark McGowan. Picture: Getty Images

Once the border reopened in February, international and domestic arrivals will no longer have to quarantine, provided they have been double vaccinated.

However, international arrivals will still be required to return a negative PCR test 72 hours prior to travel and then require a second PCR test on day two and six on arrival in Perth.

Unvaccinated travellers must still quarantine in a hotel facility on arrival.

All domestic arrivals into Western Australia must be double-dose vaccinated.

WA has a first dose vaccination rate of 94.4 per cent for people aged 12 and over.

The double dose vaccination rate is 87 per cent, while the booster rate is 18.1 per cent for people aged 16 and over.

You can find the WA Health rules here.

NSW

There are no border restrictions in place and travellers from interstate are permitted.

Anyone who has not been to an area of concern in the 14 days before arrival can enter without restriction.

But those who have been to an affected area, an area of concern or are a close contact will need to complete a NSW entry declaration and may be subject to isolation requirements.

You can find the full details and requirements here.

VICTORIA

There is no permit or testing required to enter Victoria from interstate, unless you have been overseas in the past 14 days.

Returning residents who are active COVID-19 cases are allowed to enter the state, but must go straight home to complete their isolation.

You can find the full details and requirements here.

Melbourne CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

TASMANIA

Tasmania’s border entry conditions depend on your Covid-19 vaccination status and whether you have been in an area declared high or extreme risk.

Travellers who have been in a high-risk area need to provide a negative Covid-19 test (either PCR or RAT), while those from an extreme risk area must quarantine.

All unvaccinated travellers – including Tasmanian residents – require approval to enter Tasmania. If approved to enter, quarantine and other conditions apply.

However, if you arrive without approval, you will be required to quarantine at your own cost while your application is assessed. You will be required to leave Tasmania if not approved.

You can find the full details and requirements here.

ACT

Travellers from interstate can come and go from the ACT freely, unless they are a close contact or a confirmed case.

Non-residents should not be travelling to the ACT until their isolation period has ended, but residents are allowed to return home to the ACT.

Active cases and close contacts returning home need to inform ACT Health of their arrival and follow isolation rules.

You can find the full details and requirements here.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia has removed restrictions around interstate travel.

However, all travellers should download the mySA GOV app before arriving to South Australia.

You are required to use the Covid Safe Check-In whenever you enter a business or premises displaying an approved QR code.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Double vaccinated visitors are welcome to enter the Northern Territory without having to quarantine.

However, you will need to complete a border declaration form five days before arriving and must do a RAT within two hours after arriving there.

Children aged 15 years and under are considered to be vaccinated for the purposes of entry into the NT only.

Unvaccinated returning Territorians and those people who have received authority to enter the Northern Territory, will be required to undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at their own cost.

Unvaccinated visitors are not permitted to enter the NT.

Unvaccinated people in parts of the Northern Territory will be subjected to a seven-day lockout amid fears of Covid-19 spreading in the community.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters on Sunday that Alice Springs, Amoonguna, Yuendumu and Yuelamu would enter a lockout until January 23.

It means unvaccinated people can only leave home for medical treatment, essential goods and services, an hour of exercise while wearing a mask, or to provide care to a family member who cannot support themselves.

Originally published as US labels Australia a ‘code red’