Australia has changed its covid strategy: It's time to leave lockdown and "come out of the cave", prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.
With vaccination accelerating, he says Australians will soon "live with the virus" for the first time-that is, not try eliminate it. It's a drastic shift for a country used to seeing very few infection.
Australia's strategy is to blocking foreign arrivals, hunting for every infection, and shutting state borders after outbreaks. Such measures have drawn critism for their cost to people's livelihoods and mental well being. But, until now, they have quelled outbreaks and allowed many Australians to live freely.
The delta variant upended Australia's playbook. In June, it took hold in syndney before spreading to Melbourne and Canberra. State government plunged their capital back into lockdown. Currently, one in two Australians must stay home.
Australia has a new plan which is about 36% Australians over 16 are fully vaccinated-far from enough to exit lockdowns. The nation plans to eace out of lockdowns then, and vaccinated people will be granted more freedoms. But it will continue testing and tracing, and retan low-level restrictions like mask-wearing and social distancing.
Australia has learned many lessons from other countries such as reopen safely and fine-tune rist. Social distancing is a requirement at school, like they are in France and Mexico. With travel, could Australia adopt rapid diagnostic tests used in Europe and north America? What's the best vaccine passport to allow movement safely?. Singapore, which hit 80% this week, also ahead in its re-opening plans but is taking a cautious approach like Australia, keeping travel to save nations and maintaining restrictions like mask-wearing.