The Australian state of Victoria will allow international flights to resume on April 8 following a review of its hotel quarantine programme.
Arrivals into Victoria will initially be capped at 800 travellers each week, before increasing to 1,120 travellers starting April 15.
In February, the state government put a hold on international flights following an outbreak at a Holiday Inn quarantine hotel, which hinted at poor ventilation and other flawed processes.
Victoria has since made changes to its quarantine programme, including a commitment to test travellers four times instead of twice during their two-week stay, assess ventilation at all participating hotels, and upgrade contact tracing systems.
“What we are doing is leaving no stone unturned to make it as safe as possible,” said Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino.
“I’m not going to stand before you today and say it is zero risk because nowhere in any jurisdiction in this country or around the world would someone say that to you.”
Merlino added that he has asked the federal government to consider allowing international students and other non-Australian “economic cohorts” to enter the country beginning April 15.
The country has barred international travellers, apart from Australian citizens, permanent residents, and those with exceptional circumstances, from entering since March 2020.
