<p>Australia will extend its year-long international border closure by at least three months to mid-June, continuing the country's self-imposed isolation to keep the coronavirus at bay.</p>.<p>Health Minister Greg Hunt said health officials had advised the government "the Covid-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants".</p>.<p>As a result, strict border controls will continue until June 17, he said Tuesday.</p>.<p>Australia closed its international border early in the pandemic, shutting out most non-citizens except in special circumstances.</p>.<p>Caps were also imposed on the number of Australians permitted to return each week, leaving tens of thousands stranded overseas.</p>.<p>Travellers allowed into the country must spend thousands of dollars to complete 14 days in hotel quarantine on arrival.</p>.<p>Australia has been relatively successful in containing the spread of Covid-19, with just under 29,000 cases recorded in a population of 25 million and few virus restrictions now in place.</p>
<p>Australia will extend its year-long international border closure by at least three months to mid-June, continuing the country's self-imposed isolation to keep the coronavirus at bay.</p>.<p>Health Minister Greg Hunt said health officials had advised the government "the Covid-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants".</p>.<p>As a result, strict border controls will continue until June 17, he said Tuesday.</p>.<p>Australia closed its international border early in the pandemic, shutting out most non-citizens except in special circumstances.</p>.<p>Caps were also imposed on the number of Australians permitted to return each week, leaving tens of thousands stranded overseas.</p>.<p>Travellers allowed into the country must spend thousands of dollars to complete 14 days in hotel quarantine on arrival.</p>.<p>Australia has been relatively successful in containing the spread of Covid-19, with just under 29,000 cases recorded in a population of 25 million and few virus restrictions now in place.</p>