Scott Morrison looks to Greece’s at-home quarantine system as a model for Australia

·

People arriving in Australia could be allowed to quarantine at home under a proposal health experts are considering.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is considering whether people coming from “safe” countries could isolate at home.

“I think home quarantine can play a role in the future and it’s something that is being considered by the AHPPC, particularly as we move beyond the phase we’re in now,” he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

“We do look… to have our borders open up at some point to safe locations, whether it be New Zealand or parts of the Pacific, or places like South Korea or Japan, or countries that have had a much higher rate of success, then there are opportunities to look at those alternative methods.”

Two weeks hotel quarantine is mandatory for overseas arrivals and some domestic travellers entering states and territories with closed borders.

The ACT is an exception, with people allowed to spend their stints at home.

Mr Morrison noted “many” countries allow at-home quarantine for people coming in from lower-risk areas, citing Denmark and Greece as examples.

Hong Kong and Japan are also considering relaxing their travel restrictions for numerous lower-risk countries, including Australia.

“When it comes in, that will obviously be determined principally by the health advice that can provide a green light to those sorts of options,” Mr Morrison said.

“But I’m hopeful it’s something we can move to.”

In the early stages of the pandemic, people arriving in Australia quarantined at home until hotel systems were established.

Mr Morrison said the Chinese-Australian community following home quarantine rules was “vital” to the nation’s success in managing the first virus wave.

Mr Morrison was also asked whether he took any responsibility for giving states a short period of time to get the hotel quarantine program up and running in March.

“It was actually the states and territories that were most urgent in moving forward and they made the recommendation to move so quickly to establish hotel quarantine and we supported that,” he said.

“That was a genuine decision then by the National Cabinet at the initiation of the states and territories to move as quickly as they did.

“I welcomed the fact that they were so keen to move so quickly and get those quarantine arrangements in place.”

Mr Morrison said Victoria’s hotel quarantine bungle was a “great shame” for the state, noting their experience was “quite different” to the rest of the country.

Source: SBS News.

greek film festival sydney new

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Parramatta comes alive with the biggest Let’s Go Greek Festival yet

Parramatta came alive as nearly 70,000 people danced, feasted, and celebrated at the Let’s Go Greek Festival 2025.

Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation appoints CEO and launches new language program

The Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation has unveiled a series of major developments as it continues its mission to promote Greek.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia welcomes Panathinaikos BC delegation to Sydney

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia welcomed a delegation from Panathinaikos Basketball Club to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese HQ.

‘Yiayia’s Saloni’ wins best stall at Mosaic Festival in South Australia

The GOCSA Neoléa (Youth) Committee has been awarded the coveted Best Stall Award at this year’s Mosaic Festival Adelaide.

‘A century of inspiration’: Melbourne honours Theodorakis and Hatzidakis

With a packed hall at the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne, the cultural event “A Century of Inspiration” took place.

You May Also Like

Loukoumades, music and dancing galore at the Canberra Greek Glendi

The centre of Canberra became a kaleidoscope of colour as the world's cultures came together for the National Multicultural Festival.

Turkish Foreign Minister accepts invitation to visit Athens

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has accepted an invitation by his Greek counterpart to visit Athens.

Nicolas Cage in Greece for filming of ‘The Carpenter’s Son’

Nicolas Cage is currently in Greece, specifically in the town of Megara, for the production of his upcoming film, The Carpenter’s Son.