Officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF) are to work with airport biosecurity personnel to enforce increased COVID-19 border protections.
Announcing a new 14-day self-isolation rule for international arrivals as part of an escalation in infection control measures, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ABF staff would play a key role at Australian airports.
“For those persons who come back and present with symptoms, they will be directed through the Australian Border Force to be given protective equipment,” Mr Morrison said.
He said Australia had moved into the next phase of its emergency response plan to COVID-19, which he described as the “target action” stage.
“We know that the virus cannot be absolutely stopped…but we can slow the spread,” he said.
New self-isolation requirements have also been introduced along with a 30-day ban on the docking of cruise ships from foreign ports.
“Bans have been very effective to date,” the PM said.
“And what this measure will do is ensure that particularly Australians, who are the majority of people coming to Australia now on these flights, when they come back to Australia their self-isolation for 14 days will do an effective job in flattening this curve as we go forward,” he said.
“Similarly, the arrangements for cruise ships will have the same effect in specific cases where we have Australians on cruise ships.”
Mr Morrison said “bespoke arrangements” would need to be made by the ABF in relation to the passage of Australians aboard cruise ships due to dock in Australian ports during the ban period.
