Australia Boosts Return Caps as Covid Cases Slide Into Single Digits
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday that the nation will slightly raise the weekly limit on Australians and permanent residents who can return home. With local Covid‑19 cases quietly falling into the single‑digit range, the decision comes after a tight cap was put in place earlier this year to keep new infections from looking like a holiday finale.
Why the Lift?
Since July, the government has constrained the number of people who can make the long trip back to Australia, all of whom must complete a 14‑day quarantine in hotels. The current cap stands at 5,575 people for November, but that will increase to 5,865, a bump of 290 slots. This extra room comes after Western Australia and Queensland said they were ready to host more folks.
“The best way to bring Australians home is to simply raise these caps,” Morrison told reporters, acknowledging that many are stuck without a flight or the hefty hotel fees that await at the border.
State Moves & Extra Support
- Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews proudly reported just one new infection in the past day, bringing active cases down to a four‑month low—only 100 in total.
- Victoria now captures more than 90 % of the country’s 905 deaths, underscoring how critical its case numbers are.
- The Northern Territory has struck a deal to admit up to 500 people every fortnight, an arrangement that sits outside the weekly cap. The first plane landed on Friday.
Meanwhile, the country’s second most populous state is saw a steady downturn: only a few dozen active infections, and a single new case cannot be nothing short of a relief for those who’ve been waiting to get back home.
What’s the Bottom Line?
The Australian government is trying to do 2 things at once: keep the pandemic under control and reunite thousands of citizens and residents. The new caps are the government’s way of saying “We’ve got you covered—just reschedule your flight and you’ll be back home in the 14‑day quarantine era.”
As the numbers shrink and people find a seat, the only thing missing is a theme song that celebrates a “new lease on life.”
