Flowers, cheers and tears as Australia’s border reopens

Flowers, cheers and tears as Australia’s border reopens

SYDNEY: Australia’s international border reopened yesterday almost 600 days after a pandemic closure began, sparking emotional scenes at Sydney airport as loved ones reunited. Shortly after dawn, bleary-eyed passengers began to trickle into the arrivals terminal at Kingsford Smith International and were quickly wrapped up in the tearful embraces of flower-clutching relatives.

On March 20 last year, Australia introduced some of the world’s toughest border restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Almost all travel to the island continent halted, prompting critics to dub the country a “hermit state”. Tim Turner, who had not seen his son for more than a year, said it was “pretty brilliant” that they were now able to reunite. Arriving in Sydney was “beautiful, beautiful”, he told reporters at the airport.

Julie Choo, who flew back from the UK to visit her sick mother in hospital, said she was trying not to cry as the plane touched down. “I just can’t wait to touch my mother’s hand when I see her. I can’t wait to hold her,” she said. “It’s going to be very emotional.” For the last 19 months, Australians have been banned from travelling overseas without permission. Families were split across continents, and tens of