Australian Prime Minster Tony Abbot has banned visas from Ebola stricken countries.
Australia has issued a ban on issuing visas to people from Sierra Leone, Guiana and Liberia, the three worst effected countries in the Ebola outbreak. -Yahoo/Reuters. The move bans any new applications or immigration from the three countries. All non-permanent visas are being canceled and anyone with a permanent one will be subject to a 21 day quarantine. Healthcare workers returning have been asked to self quarantine as well, with stronger action being a possibility. Critics blasted the move saying that it would do nothing and that Australia has not done enough to fight the outbreak in Africa.
My Comment:
Smart move by Australia. When other countries are without leaders Tony Abbot and the Australian government has acted. This is, of course, the correct move. It is extremely unlikely that Australia will get a case of Ebola now, unless they have a health care worker come back from treating patients, and even then they are taking steps to protect their citizens. How this isn't standard procedure in every country is beyond me. I'll never understand the people that think borders must be open at all times no matter the circumstances.
Australia isn't the first country to protect their borders. Many African and Central American countries have as well. North Korea banned everyone, even tourists. Even some American state governors have acted. But far too many countries are allowing casual travel from the hot zone and as long as that is the case then everyone is at risk, even the people with closed borders. The outbreak is totally out of control and it is time that the world takes the threat seriously.
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