NATIONAL CABINET OUTCOMES
* Flights from India to Darwin to resume on May 15, starting with repatriation of the most vulnerable
* Following flights will be May 23 and 31. One repatriation flight is expected to arrive every seven to nine days, with an estimated 1000 Australians returning by the end of June
* The first flight to have about 150 people on board, with NT health authorities expecting about 10 per cent to be positive to COVID-19 (despite pre-flight testing)
* A number of state governments are considering how to facilitate commercial flights safely, but the commercial flight ban remains in place. NSW says it's happy to take flights from India under the new plan.
* Passengers will need to return both a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test and a negative rapid antigen test before boarding
* COVID-19 positive cases in Howard Springs have fallen to 21 from more than 50 cases a week ago
* Positive cases associated with previous flights from India on track to reach zero by May 14
* There are now 9500 Australians registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with 950 considered vulnerable
* More than 20,000 Australians have returned on repatriation flights from India since the beginning of the pandemic
* Deal to continue where Tasmania houses Victoria's share of seasonal workers from Pacific islands and Victoria takes Tasmania's share of repatriation arrivals
* Talks under way with Sri Lankan government on enabling passenger pre-flight testing
* Biosecurity order allowing for fines or jail for travel ban breaches remains in place
* National cabinet returning to monthly meetings
Australian Associated Press
