Australian Prime Minister took it to social media to inform about countries efforts to help India amid the COVID crisis.
Mr Morrison said Australia is stepping up to support our good friends in India as they manage a difficult COVID-19 outbreak and growing humanitarian crisis.
On Wednesday morning a Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Sydney Airport carrying medical supplies, including over 1000 non-invasive ventilators, oxygen concentrators and other supplies. This supply is sent in consultation with the Indian Government as per their needs.
“This is just the first package of support Australia will provide and we are working as quickly as possible in partnership with India to meet urgent needs. This is a difficult time for our friends in India and Australians still in India or with loved ones over there. We will stand with our Indian friends providing medical supplies and needed assistance,” explained PM Morrison.
He further talked about the India travel ban and its necessity for Australia to prepare for receiving its citizens from India.
Mr Morrison said, “Our temporary pause on Australians returning from India is only until 15 May. This pause is just temporary while we get other measures in place to support those coming from India to be able to travel safely home and to ensure they can be accommodated here in Australia.”
“We will restore our repatriation flights from India and bring Australians, who are in India now, home but we must do it safely. That’s why we have put this temporary pause in place so we can get the extra measures in place so we don’t end up with the third wave of COVID in Australia,” said Mr Morrison
It has been outlined that all passengers on future flights from India will be required to have both a negative COVID-19 PCR test result and a negative Rapid Antigen test result prior to departure.
Australian government via its High Commission in the Indian capital New Delhi and Consulates in Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai is putting those arrangements in place.
PM Morrison ended by saying, “I want to thank everyone for your patience and your understanding. This is a raging global pandemic and we are determined to do everything we can to keep Australians and their families safe.”
