According to Johns Hopkins University, Australia’s borders remain closed, as one of the best performing countries in the pandemic, with fewer than 30,000 reported cases and 910 deaths.
Rapid border closures and subsequent restrictions on sporadic regional hikes in cases so far have reduced the figures.
“Australia is in no hurry to open these borders, I assure you,” Morrison said in a televised briefing, according to Reuters.
“I will not jeopardize our way of living in this country so different from the rest of the world today.”
However, there is hope that visitors can be allowed to enter in late 2021. On Friday, Morrison suggested that the priority would be to allow vaccinated Australians in and out of the country.
But he said a partial opening of the border was even missing and would not be taken into account until the vulnerable have been vaccinated. Adding the restrictions could see 1,000 cases a week.
Australia’s borders are closed, with citizens and permanent residents returning, their immediate family and travelers with exemptions the only people allowed to enter the country.
From April 19, a full travel bubble will begin with New Zealand, with the whole country classified as a green zone. However, it is not indefinite: regional outbreaks could see the bubble reduced.