Panic
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Australia's man in Washington has suggested the border could stay shut until the entire world is vaccinated.
US Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos told an online forum for the Hudson Institute that although border closures are costing Australia's economy billions, it might be years before citizens get on a plane or return home without having to quarantine.
There were hopes that when Australia's Covid vaccine rollout is completed late this year the border shutdown, which has been in effect since March, 2020, would come to a end.
But Mr Sinodinos said it may take a lot longer given how scared Australians citizens are and how popular strict lockdown measures have become with the public as a result - giving politicians plenty of incentive to support them.
Australia has seen 19,500 COVID cases and 910 deaths, total, since this panic began 14 months ago.
