CANBERRA, Apr 26 (NNN-XINHUA) – The Australian government has flagged strong bio-security measures at the nation’s airports, once restrictions on international travel are lifted.
Peter Dutton, minister for home affairs, told Sky News Australia on Sunday (today) that, following the pandemic, the Australian Border Force (ABF) will have responsibility for bio-security measures at airports.
“There will be an additional overlay of bio-security at our airports for years to come,” he said.
“We don’t know what will happen next flu season, we don’t know whether there will be another pandemic in 12 months’ or 12 years’ time.
“We need to make sure we use the technology we have available and look at assessing that threat as the human threat crosses our borders.”
According to the Department of Health, there have been 81 deaths and 6,703 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia as of Sunday morning – an increase of 16, or 0.24 percent from 6,687 on Saturday morning.
Dutton said, he believes that Australia’s relative success in preventing the spread of the virus can be attributed to the ban on international travel in Mar.
Dutton said that recommencing travel between Australia and New Zealand, which has also successfully prevented the spread of COVID-19, would be the logical first step in easing those restrictions.
“You could look at an arrangement with New Zealand, given they are at a comparable stage as we are, in this fight against this virus,” he said.– NNN-XINHUA
