Coronavirus: Australia to resume repatriation flights from India
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced that the temporary pause on flights from India to Australia in view of the rising coronavirus cases will end at May 14 midnight.
He also announced that the facilitated commercial flights by the Australian Government will resume as promised subject to the strict pre-flight testing regime.
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In a Facebook post, Scott Morrison wrote, "At midnight tonight, the temporary pause on flights from India to Australia ends and facilitated commercial flights by the Australian Government will resume as promised, with a strict pre-flight testing regime to keep Australians safe."
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"The pause gave our quarantine system much-needed breathing space to minimize the risk of COVID-19 getting out of quarantine into the community and having a third wave here," he added.
Australia's travel ban came into effect on May 3 in the wake of rising coronavirus cases in India.
However, the development sparked outrage as officials issued warning that those who tried to enter Australia after being in India within the prior 14 days could face jail or a heavy fine.
He informed that a flight packed with medical supplies and equipment to support India took off from Sydney on Friday.
He added that the plane used to carry these supplies to India on Friday will later act as a Government-facilitated flight for Australians to return home from India.
He also said that passengers will have to produce both negative COVID-19 PCR test results and a negative rapid antigen test result prior to their departure.
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