Australia looking to restrict return of citizens

The border between Victoria and New South Wales, the busiest in the country, was closed overnight and around 4.9 million residents in the Victorian capital of Melbourne will return to partial lockdown at midnight following a spike in COVID-19 cases in the city.

With the Victoria shutdown putting pressure on other states, Morrison said he would take a proposal on Friday (July 10) to the national cabinet created to deal with the pandemic, seeking to slow down the return of Australian citizens and permanent residents by reducing the number of repatriation flights. The two groups have been the only arrivals allowed since Australia closed its international border in March.

Neighboring New Zealand has already taken that step, announcing on Tuesday (July 7) that its national airline will not take new inbound bookings for three weeks to reduce the burden on overflowing quarantine facilities.