In a rapid escalation of border-control measures on Thursday,Tasmania became the first Australian state to raise its own borders in more than a century,forcing almost everyone entering the state to spend two weeks in quarantine. New Zealand also shut off entry,sealing off Australasia from the rest of the world.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a travel ban will be placed on all people who are not Australian residents or their direct relations coming to the country from 9pm on Friday night. Mr Morrison said the move was"essential"to stop the further spread of COVID-19 from overseas.
"The reason for this decision is about 80 per cent of the cases we have in Australia are either the result of someone who has contracted the virus overseas or someone who has had direct contact with someone who has returned from overseas,"he said.
The move comes as airlines including Qantas and AirAsia prepare to completely halt international services,which could leave Australians stranded if they do not find a way home in the coming days. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the international travel ban was likely to last six months as Australia tries to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
Melbourne resident Gary Ryan has been part of a group of nine Australians stuck in Morocco. Mr Ryan on Thursday managed to get out of Marrakesh on an emergency flight to London organised by the British government with carrier EasyJet. He and the group will then fly on to Australia from London.
He said the communication from the Department of Foreign Affairs had been lacking,after calling them “more than 40 times”.
“It’s been bedlam for the last two days out of the airport. The Moroccan government has been overwhelmed,” he said.