Sydney will end its Covid-19 quarantine for fully vaccinated international travellers from Nov 1, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet has said, foreshadowing the full return of overseas travel after more than 19 months.

Australia closed its international borders in March 2020 in response to the pandemic, allowing entry almost exclusively to only citizens and permanent residents who are required to undergo a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine at their own expense, according to AFP.

“We want people back, we are leading the nation out of the pandemic ... we are opening Sydney and New South Wales to the world,” Perrottet told reporters in Sydney, the state capital.