Source: ABCnews
Victoria has recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases.
The state processed 24,726 test results on Thursday, when 19,470 vaccine doses were delivered at state-run sites.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will push in this morning’s National Cabinet meeting for a significant reduction in the number of international travellers coming into Australia over the next few months, arguing it is a hard but necessary decision to prevent lockdowns.
Mr Andrews said that lowered cap could be lifted in a few months, when greater vaccine coverage had been reached.
In a statement, he outlined four key areas that he said would “chart a course out of the pandemic”.
These included refining the eligibility criteria for Australians to travel abroad, to return home and a nationally agreed vaccination target that would allow for different quarantine arrangements based on the risk assessments of incoming travellers.
Mr Andrews also pushed for safer alternatives to hotel quarantines.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister will use this morning’s National Cabinet meeting to discuss setting a vaccination target which, once reached, would mean lockdowns and travel restrictions would no longer be required.
The ABC understands Scott Morrison will look to find agreement on what level of vaccination needs to be reached, to give certainty to state and territory populations.
“We need to change gears for the road ahead,” he said after leaving quarantine in Canberra this morning.
“I’m very confident that we will keep working together for what Australia needs to take us through what has been one of the most difficult times in our history.
“National Cabinet has done it before and I’m sure we will do it again today.”
