The first repatriation flight carrying Australians stranded in India landed in Darwin on Saturday following the tip of the federal authorities’s controversial ban on their return house.
The repatriation flights facilitated by the Australian authorities for its stranded residents in India resumed from Friday, following a 2-week ban because of the COVID-19 well being disaster in India.
The Qantas jet touched down on the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base shortly earlier than 9 a.m. native time.
It was scheduled to hold as much as 150 passengers however, in the long run, solely carried 80 folks again to Australia.
“Many passengers on the first flight on Friday were grounded due to COVID-19 positive test results,” Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell was quoted as saying by ABC News.
A complete of 70 folks had been barred from boarding. Of them, 46 examined optimistic for the coronavirus, whereas 24 others had been recognized as shut contacts.
The arrivals might be taken to the Howard Springs centre.
Passengers on this flight needed to bear and return a damaging end result on two assessments earlier than they may get on the airplane — an RT-PCR check within the two days beforehand after which a speedy antigen check.
The Australian authorities had launched the journey ban for its residents and residents a fortnight in the past to mitigate the chance of a excessive an infection fee at its quarantine services, together with the Howard Springs centre in Darwin.
The repatriation flight was the primary flight after the Australian authorities imposed a brief ban with the specter of prison sanctions, together with 5 years in jail and fines of as much as 66,000 Australian {dollars} for individuals who tried to return from India.
The subsequent flight from India is scheduled in simply over per week.
Almost 10,000 Australians, everlasting residents and their quick relations, are in search of to return to Australia, with round 1,000 who’ve been prioritised as “vulnerable” for well being or monetary causes.
The flight from Australia to India on Friday (to deliver again Australians) carried 1,056 ventilators, 60 oxygen concentrators and different important provides, including to medical gear despatched final week.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison mentioned the controversial weeks-long pause in journey from India had labored.
Australia has delivered over 15 tonnes of medical provides to India, together with over 2,000 ventilators and greater than 100 oxygen concentrators.
India in a day recorded 3,26,098 COVID-19 instances that took the tally to 2,43,72,907, whereas 3,890 new fatalities pushed the loss of life toll to 2,66,207, based on Union Health Ministry information up to date on Saturday.