National Cabinet has agreed to new vaccination targets, which will dictate the easing of restrictions and the reopening of the nation’s economy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced more details around the government’s four-stage plan to return to normal, which will turn Australia into a vaccinated nation that manages COVID-19 with few restrictions.
Lockdowns will also become “less likely” after that target is hit, but international border caps will remain in place.
Plus, the Prime Minister says “special rules” will apply to Australians who are fully vaccinated at that stage, meaning that they will not be subject to some of the restrictions currently imposed on the population.
Here is what is involved in each phase in our pandemic response, and what it will take for Australia to take greater steps towards normal life.
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Phase A: Vaccinate, prepare, pilot
Australia is currently in the first phase of the government’s four-stage plan to return to normal, which seeks to suppress the virus using lockdowns as the primary tool.
This includes much of what we’re already used to, such as:
- Accelerating vaccine rates, including implementing a national vaccination plan
- Closing international borders to keep COVID-19 out
- Early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur
- Preparing a vaccine booster program
- Undertaking a further review of the national hotel quarantine network
So what will it take to get to phase B?
70 per cent of the eligible population will need to have received both doses of a coronavirus vaccine before the nation moves to the next stage of easing restrictions.
Mr Morrison said he believed the country could reach this target of 70 per cent before the end of the year.
Phase B: Vaccine transition phase
So what would phase B look like?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said lockdowns will become “less likely” in phase B, but they are “still possible”.
“They are not something that you would normally expect because of the much higher level of vaccination and protection…