Fully vaccinated Australians to fly from November 1 as UK grapples with Covid wave

It’s the destination Aussies are desperate to get back to - but yet another spiralling outbreak in the UK is triggering fears of incoming restrictions.

It’s the destination Aussies are most excited about and the route that will bring the highest number of our people home - but yet another worrying Covid outbreak in the UK is triggering fears of further restrictions.

Sydney will be the first to send planes back overseas for fully vaccinated Aussies, with Qantas’ first packed flight leaving NSW’s capital on the morning of November 1 for London.

But the spiralling situation in the UK - where close to 50,000 people a day are testing positive and 1000 people are being rushed to hospital - is triggering discussions in Australia as we move to living with Covid.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet held a joint press conference at Sydney Airport on Friday morning to celebrate the resumption of international flights. 

Even with the international travel ban finally on the way out, the PM stopped short of completely ruling out any future restrictions.

“We’ve been finding our own Australian way through this pandemic, that’s why 30,000 lives have been saved here in this pandemic. As opposed, terribly, to what we’ve seen in other countries, sadly including the UK,” he said.

“We’ve had the strongest, if not one of the strongest economic recoveries of any countries going through the pandemic and that’s because we’ve been doing it the Australian way ... we’ve had scientific targets to determine as to when we can take the steps to reopen the country.

“The first cautious step at 70 per cent and then a strong and bold step at 80 per cent, but still with low levels of control being in place, even at that point to ensure we live with virus safely.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media at the Qantas Jet Base at Sydney Airport. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Sydney Airport will kick off international flights on November 1. Picture: NCA NewsWire Christian Gilles

Mr Morrison said Australia had taken a “very different” approach to the one seen in the UK.

“I was there when they were going through their process, they opened up fully when there were tens of thousands of cases and 67 per cent double vaccination rates. Now, that’s not what we’ve done, we’ve taken a very different approach.”

The PM said the national plan meant Australia was opening safely “so we can remain safely open”.

“That’s the goal and that’s what the plan delivers and that’s what I expect,” he said.

“I’m confident in the work that’s been done, the strength of the vaccines and the take-up ... Australia will have one of highest vaccination rates in the world.”

While Mr Morrison is holding out hope Australia will continue to manage the pandemic with ease, there’s no denying the devastating situation coming out of the UK.

Britain’s government yesterday warned it expected up to 100,000 cases a day over the upcoming winter months and health leaders have urged the government to reinstate some public health measures to slow the surge and ease pressure on hospitals.

“Cases are rising. They could go yet as high as 100,000 a day. This pandemic is not over,” UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid told reporters.

“We are looking closely at the data but we won’t be implementing our Plan B of contingency measures at this point.

“But we will be staying vigilant, preparing for all eventualities, while strengthening our vital defences that can help us fight back against the virus.”

The UK is dealing with tens of thousands of daily cases. Picture: Martin Pope/Getty Images

The government, which lifted coronavirus restrictions in July, insists it is closely watching the statistics, which have been attributed to high numbers of infections in school-age children.

But it maintains the situation does not yet warrant a return to restrictions, such as compulsory indoor mask-wearing and working from home where possible.

The UK has lost more than 139,000 people to the Covid pandemic.

Matthew Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation representing the state-run health service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said hospitals were feeling severe pressure and action was needed before the cold weather kicked in.

“Is it better to act early and take measures which don’t stop the economy working - but I recognise they are inconvenient for people - or do we wait for things to get worse and possibly risk having to take more severe measures?”