COVID-19: Australian International borders to remain closed for 2021 – Brendan Murphy, Health Department Secretary

Well, this isn’t good news.

In a question asked on ABC TV this morning on whether international borders would open this year, Brendan Murphy, Secretary to the Commonwealth Department of Health had this answer:

“I think the answer is probably no,”

Professor Brendan Murphy, Secretary, Department of Health

He doesn’t think extensive vaccination of Australia’s population would help, as it is still unknown whether the vaccine prevents transmission, as well as reducing the severity of the infection

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.

This is very bad news for airlines, the travel industry, Australian and overseas travellers and our nearest neighbours. He didn’t even hold out the possibility of travel bubbles.

Oh dear.

Let’s hope he is a pessimist, I suppose.