Despite recent outbreaks caused by the extremely dangerous COVID-19 Delta strain, Australia is on course to reopen its borders to foreign visitors once vaccination rates reach 70-80%.

Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, recently commented that the country will meet that milestone and reopen to foreign travel by December, with flights to nations with high vaccination rates, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, expected to begin in mid-December.

The business revealed a $1.7 billion pandemic-related annual loss in a press release on Thursday. “Vaccination rates are expected to reach 70 percent of the eligible population during November, enabling domestic lockdowns and border restrictions to be steadily eased,” said Qantas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently stated that restrictions will be eased once 70% of locals aged 16 and up have been inoculated, with borders reopened to international travellers once at least 80% of residents have been completely vaccinated against COVID-19. According to Reuters, approximately one-third of Australia’s adult population has been completely vaccinated, with just over half (53%) having gotten at least one dose.

In a statement, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “When Australia reaches those critical vaccination targets later this year and the likelihood of future lockdowns and border closures reduces, we expect to see a surge in domestic travel demand and a gradual return of international travel.”

 Despite having a low case count of 48,815 COVID-19 infections and 991 deaths as of last week, Australia has seen a sharp increase in cases in recent weeks, with new daily cases exceeding 1,000 for the first time since the pandemic began on Thursday.

For travelers hoping to experience Australia by the end of 2021, the number to keep an eye on will be the country’s vaccination level. “This level of vaccination will make it easier to live with the virus, as we do with other viruses such as the flu,” the Melbourne-based Doherty Institute said in a statement earlier this week. “Once we reach 70 percent vaccine coverage, opening up at tens or hundreds of cases nationally per day is possible.”

– India’s new age travel digital media