As hundreds of protesters were being arrested for breaking Covid restrictions, PM Scott Morrison has reiterated that Australia will keep battling the virus with lockdowns until the majority of citizens are fully vaccinated. He stated on Sunday, “You can’t live with lockdowns forever and at some point, you need to make that gear change and that is done at 70%.”
Until now, less than 30% of Australians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated and just over 51% have received their first dose, with figures fluctuating from state to state.
Australia previously set a target vaccination rate of at least 70% before it would shift away from a strategy of snap total lockdowns, towards mitigation through social distancing, masks and more targeted closures in ‘extreme situations.’ Restrictions on international travel will be reviewed only when the nation reaches an 80% rate. The rules change will benefit only vaccinated Australians, however.
