Australia will cut Covid restrictions 'progressively' once enough people are vaccinated rather than remove them all at once like the UK - but Greg Hunt STILL won't say how many need to get the jab first
- Australia has a four stage plan to get back to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic
- Each stage will be triggered when a certain percentage of adults are vaccinated
- Health Minister Greg Hunt said the rates will be released 'in the near future'
- The UK has removed all restrictions with 68.5 per cent of adults double jabbed
Residents exercise in Bondi on Tuesday
Australia will progressively relax coronavirus restrictions and focus on limiting deaths instead of cases once enough people have been vaccinated, Greg Hunt said on Tuesday.
The Health Minister said the country would adopt a gradual approach towards living with Covid-19 instead of removing all curbs at once like the UK did on Monday.
Earlier this month Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a four stage plan to get Australia back to normal, with each step to be triggered when the vaccination rate hits a certain percentage.
In the next phase expected early next year lockdowns will not be needed but international arrival caps will remain in place.
Mr Hunt said the vaccination percentages required are being calculated by modelling experts at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and would be released 'in the near future'.
'It means we won't just strip away all of the protections at once. I think it is very much an understood position that borders, testing, tracing, distancing, it is a progressive step down in measures as we have the increase in vaccination rates,' he said.
The UK recorded 39,950 cases on Monday and 19 deaths but has removed all restrictions because 68.5 per cent of adults are fully vaccinated, meaning serious illness and deaths are less likely.
Australia's tightly controlled international border will be one of the longest-lasting Covid restrictions. Pictured: A family at Sydney Airport
The UK removed all Covid restrictions on Monday. Pictured: British clubbers return to Astoria in Portsmouth
Mr Hunt said Australia - which currently aims to eliminate Covid-19 - will also move towards focussing on deaths instead of cases when more adults are jabbed.
'We will increasingly focus on hospitalisation and preventing loss of life,' he said.
As of July 19, 14.09 per cent of Australians over 16 have had two doses of a Covid vaccine and 35.71 per cent have had their first dose.
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One million Pfizer doses touched down in Australia on Sunday night as the nation's sluggish vaccine rollout ramps up.
'Right now, we are going through the process of completing that vaccination program and we passed 10 million doses this week,' Mr Hunt said.
'We will pass 11 million over the course of the coming week and 12 million not long after that. So those vaccination rates are increasing.'
The four-phase plan to return Australia to 'Covid normal' which will eventually see holidays resume
On July 9 Scott Morrison outlined a four-phase transition towards living with Covid and finally ending the cycle of lockdowns and border closures.
The Prime Minister hailed a 'new deal for Australians' as he explained the stages titled vaccinate, prepare and pilot; post vaccination phase; consolidation phase; and final phase.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives to a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney on July 9
The pace of the plan - which will eventually let the country manage Covid like flu - depends on the vaccine rollout, with lockdowns eliminated once a certain percentage of Aussies have been fully jabbed with two doses.
'I have made it very clear today what is on the other side. If we all get vaccinated then this all changes,' Mr Morrison said.
'The pathway we have agreed today gives all Australians encouragement and much needed hope in what has been a very difficult time.'
