Passengers arrive at Perth domestic airport in Perth, Australia
(Picture: AP)Australia is now fully open to vaccinated travellers after the “hermit state” of Western Australia became the last to lift its border restrictions.
The territory, which covers a third of the country’s land area, closed its borders to most international and interstate visitors in 2020 to slow the spread of Covid.
But on Thursday, state officials lifted its restrictions just four months after Sydney began a reopening of quarantine-free travel and more than a week since vaccinated tourists became eligible for visas.
Families emotionally reunited at Perth airport as 22 domestic flights and five international flights began arriving Thursday morning.
Around 5,000 people are expected to arrive in the state throughout the day.
“Australia is now finally back together,” chief executive of Qantas Airways Alan Joyce said. “This day has been a long time coming.”
Among the reunions, one Australian who will now be able to visit family in Western Australia said on social media: “Just knowing that I am one step closer to being able to go home.
“Being able to welcome my family to Western Australia. The joy I am feeling now is honestly something I haven’t felt before.”
Vaccinated arrivals are no longer required to quarantine but mask wearing, proof of vaccination and venue capacity limits remain in place.
The federal opposition Labor leader in Australia Anthony Albanese was also among those travelling to the state on Thursday for a campaign visit.
The Australian prime minister Scott Morrison is also expected to later make a visit but he is currently self-isolating with Covid.
Western Australia had implemented a hard-line policy to stop the spread of Covid early on in the pandemic.
In the wake of the Omicron variant, the state now reports more than 1,000 new infections every day.
On Wednesday, 61 deaths from the virus were reported across Australia.
No Covid deaths were reported that day in Western Australia, Tasmania or the Australian Capital Territory.
