Australia to halve arrivals from overseas, offers Covid-19 exit roadmap

A pedestrian crosses an empty street in the deserted city centre at morning commute hour during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak in Sydney, Australia

* Australia to cut arrivals from overseas to 3,000 a week * NSW reports 31 new cases, biggest daily rise for 2021 * Brisbane lockdown extended for another day Australia will halve the number of arrivals from overseas as its coronavirus hotel quarantine system creaks under pressure from outbreaks of the highly transmissible Delta variant, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday. The new restrictions on travel come as Australia fights outbreaks of the Delta variant simultaneously in three state capital cities, meaning nearly half of all Australians are currently under strict orders to stay at home. Most recent outbreaks have been traced to leaks in hotel quarantine. Australia shut its international borders early last year largely to non-citizens. Permanent residents and returning Australian travellers, except those exiting New Zealand, have to quarantine in hotels for two weeks at their own expense.