How Australia’s rules for return travellers have changed because of the mutant COVID-19 strain

The Australian Government has made major changes to how it accepts return travellers in response to the mutant, highly contagious strain of COVID-19 circulating overseas

For the short term, the number of people welcomed back to Australia will be halved.

The changes are expected to have significant flow-on effects for those overseas still waiting to return to Australia, where the virus is relatively under control.

Let’s unpack the new rules.

How many people can now fly back to Australia?

National Cabinet today agreed to halve the number of international arrivals allowed into three states over the next month.

Until February 15, NSW will be allowed to take a maximum of 1,505 people a week into hotel quarantine.

Queensland will be allowed a…