Australia extends border closure by three months

Australia will extend its year-long international border closure by at least three months to mid-June, continuing the country’s self-imposed isolation to keep the coronavirus at bay.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said health officials had advised the government “the Covid-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants.”

As a result, strict border controls will continue until June 17, he said Tuesday.

Australia closed its international border early in the pandemic, shutting out most non-citizens except in special circumstances. 

Caps were also imposed on the number of Australians permitted to return each week, leaving tens of thousands stranded overseas.