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The US will lift COVID-19 travel restrictions for fully vaccinated international visitors from November 8, ending historic restrictions that had barred much of the world from entering the country for as long as 21 months.

The unprecedented travel restrictions kept millions of visitors out of the United States from China, Canada, Mexico, Australia, India, Brazil, much of Europe and elsewhere; shrunk US tourism; and hurt border community economies. They prevented many loved ones and foreign workers from reuniting with families.

US allies had heavily lobbied the Biden administration to lift the rules. Many praised Friday's announcement, including Sweden's ambassador to the United States Karin Olofsdotter, who called it "very welcoming news."

White House spokesman Kevin Munoz confirmed the November 8 date on Twitter, adding the policy "is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent."

Restrictions on non-US citizens were first imposed on air travellers from China in January 2020 by then-President Donald Trump and then extended to dozens of other countries, without any clear metrics for how and when to lift them.

US airline, hotel and cruise industry stocks rose on the news, including American Airlines, up 2.8 per cent; Marriott International Inc, up 3.7 per cent; and Carnival Corp, up 0.9 per cent.

US international air passenger traffic was down 43 per cent in August and overall passenger air traffic was down 21 per cent over pre-pandemic levels, the US Transportation Department said Friday.

Airlines have seen an increase in international ticket sales in recent weeks after the White House announced plans to lift the restrictions, Nick Calio, chief executive of the Airlines for America industry trade group, said in a statement.

Calio said the "full reopening of international travel is also critical to reviving economies around the globe, reinvigorating communities and supporting millions of jobs in the US and abroad."

The United States had lagged many other countries in lifting such restrictions.

Non-US air travellers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight, and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative test.

The new rules do not require foreign visitors or Americans entering the country to go into quarantine.

© RAW 2021

Fully vaccinated Australians and their families will be the first people to benefit when NSW scraps quarantine for international arrivals.

Scott Morrison on Friday supported the state government's shock decision to end isolation requirements for people who land in Sydney from November 1.

But the prime minister limited the scope to citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families despite NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet insisting tourists would be included.

All arrivals will need to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and return negative tests for the disease before and after their flight.

The definition of immediate family will be expanded to include parents, rather than just partners and children.

All Australians will also be allowed to leave the country from the start of next month without having to receive special permission.

Mr Morrison denied Mr Perrottet was hasty to suggest tourists, skilled migrants and international students would be allowed to return.

"The premier understands that's a decision for the Commonwealth government, not for the state governments," he told reporters in Sydney.

"When we believe that is a decision to make, we will make it at that time.

"I'm going to progress steadily but at the same time carefully and I welcome this first step. I think it's a positive step."

More than 45,000 Australians are stranded overseas with tight arrival caps and border restrictions hampering their return.

Mr Morrison said vaccination coverage exceeding 80 per cent would allow states to follow NSW.

NSW will allow 210 unvaccinated international arrivals each week to undertake two weeks of quarantine.

The prime minister said he had written to leaders from other states and territories for expected caps.

Qantas announced it would bring forward the resumption of international flights to November 1 following the NSW decision.

The national carrier will operate five return flights a week from Sydney to London and up to four return flights a week from Sydney to Los Angeles.

Under the national reopening plan, an 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate was supposed to trigger a gradual reopening of international travel with "safe countries" and "proportionate quarantine".

The national cabinet deal - based on Doherty Institute modelling - signalled reduced requirements for fully vaccinated travellers.

But quarantine-free travel was only part of the final "post-vaccination" phase, which seeks to manage coronavirus in the same way as other infectious diseases.

Mr Morrison said the NSW decision was consistent with the plan.

Mr Perrottet said he had numerous discussions with the prime minister about scrapping quarantine but agreed the federal government would need to implement border measures.

"We want tourists back into the state as quickly as possible."

The premier said he could not control other states' quarantine requirements but urged overseas travellers to spend time in Sydney if required.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters to take a "chill pill" after being asked about the NSW decision.

"Victoria will go about its business in the national context, understanding it's the Commonwealth who control international borders, not the states," he said.

Queensland will reassess its border restrictions because of the decision.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said arrivals in Sydney wouldn't be welcome in his state.

"It's obviously not in accordance with the national plan, what's going on over there," he said.

"If you return from overseas and you don't do two weeks of hotel quarantine in NSW, you're not going to be permitted to come into WA."

NSW recorded 399 new local coronavirus infections on Friday, while case numbers in Victoria continue to soar with 2179 registered.

There were six deaths in Victoria and four in NSW.

Southern Tasmania will enter a three-day lockdown after a man with coronavirus escaped hotel quarantine.

Australia has fully vaccinated 66.3 per cent of its eligible population aged 16 and over, while 84 per cent have received their first dose.

© AAP 2021

Researchers hope a new vaccine to protect koalas against the ravages of chlamydia could boost long-term survival prospects for the species.

The vaccine, which has been years in the making, is being trialled at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Queensland.

Starting today, about 400 koalas will be given the vaccine.

The trial is of particular importance for southeast Queensland and NSW, where chlamydia affects 50 per cent or more of the koala population.

Male and female koalas contract the disease through sexual contact and mothers can pass it to their joeys as they suckle in the pouch. It can cause eye disease, bladder infections, and worst of all for a species under pressure, infertility.

The University of the Sunshine Coast is leading phase three of the vaccine rollout, after previous phases determined it was safe and produced a good immune system response, therefore affording a good level of protection.

Peter Timms, a professor of microbiology at the university, says koalas admitted to the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital will get a single-dose jab after they've been treated and before they're released back into the wild.

All koalas will be micro-chipped, allowing the hospital to record animals that return for any reason over the following year.

Wildlife vet Amber Gillett says chlamydia is the most common reason koalas are admitted to the hospital, and the disease is one of the most significant threats to the species.

"Although many koalas with chlamydia can be treated using traditional antibiotics, some animals cannot be saved due to the severity of their infection," she says.

"Having a vaccine that can help prevent both infection and the severity of the disease is a critical element in the species' conservation management."

As the trials continue, the vaccine is progressing through the government registration process with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

That should help speed up its manufacture and use if the trials go to plan.

© AAP 2021