Australian government halves arrival cap, leaving thousands stranded as air fares skyrocket

Australia's limit on international arrivals has been cut from a little over 6,000 to about 3,000 passengers a week as of July 14, crushing the hopes of the roughly 34,000 Australians now stuck overseas and wanting to come home.

(CNN) — For much of the pandemic, Australia has been the envy of the world. The nation leveraged its geographic isolation and resilient economy to close its borders and largely block out Covid-19. The results spoke for themselves. While other countries faced prolonged lockdowns and overwhelmed hospital systems, the majority of Australians enjoyed large public gatherings, sporting events and open societies.