CANBERRA, Sept 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, told state and territory leaders they owe it to Australians to reopen borders by Christmas.
Morrison said today that, there was no reason for state borders to remain closed, once 80 percent of adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a milestone the country is expected to reach in the following months.
“It’s important that we move forward. We can’t stay in second gear. We’ve got to get to top gear in living with the virus,” he told Seven Network television.
“My message to Australians is, what I like them to have for Christmas is their lives back.”
However, some state premiers push back against the government’s four-phase roadmap out of the pandemic, as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.
Under the plan, domestic borders will open when 80 percent of over-16s have had two vaccine doses.
This morning, Australia reported 1,765 new locally acquired COVID-19 infections, amid lockdown in some major cities.
New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, with Sydney as the capital city, reported 961 new cases and nine deaths.
There have been 297 COVID-19 related deaths in NSW since June 16, said the statement from NSW Health.
Victoria, the second-most populous state, with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 779 new local cases and two deaths.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) recorded 25 cases, taking the number of active cases in the nation’s capital to 240.
According to the latest data, released by the Department of Health, 75.4 percent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 50.9 percent are fully vaccinated.
