After Two Years, , Australia Reopens Its Borders.
Reuters reports Australia is reopening its borders to vaccinated tourists.
Australian officials announced the country will be open to foreigners on Feb. 21.
If you're double-vaccinated, 
we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia. , Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, via statement.
Australia's tourism industry 
has been hit especially hard 
by coronavirus safety measures.
Over the two years since the borders have been closed the industry has been on its knees. , Peter Shelley, Managing Director 
of Australian Tourism Export Council, via Reuters.
Now we can turn our collective efforts towards rebuilding an industry that is in disrepair. , Peter Shelley, Managing Director 
of Australian Tourism Export Council, via Reuters.
According to data from Tourism Research Australia, the country has lost $72 billion in 
the tourism sector since the beginning 
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Reuters, nine out of ten 
Australians over 16 years old have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
Australia reported a little more than 
23,000 new coronavirus infections on Jan. 7.
Currently, the country reports its lowest amount of new COVID cases for 2022.
Per Reuters, almost 2.4 million cases 
of positive infections have occurred 
since the initial detection of the 
Omicron variant in Australia