Australia says international borders to stay shut for 'some time' despite vaccine progress

[SYDNEY] Australia's borders will likely stay closed for "some time", Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, despite progress in rolling out Covid-19 vaccines.

Britain on Wednesday approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine, stoking hopes of rapid Covid-19 inoculations across the world.

Still, Mr Morrison said Australia would keep its borders closed to non-Australian citizens and non-permanent residents.

"On international borders we're still some time away from that," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

REUTERS