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Australia will reduce the number of its citizens able to return from India and other red-zone countries to contain the risk of more virulent strains of coronavirus disease spreading, the government said on Thursday as it announced changes in its vaccination program, Reuters reports.

The restrictions will result in a 30 percent reduction in direct flights from India to Sydney and chartered flights that land in the Northern Territory.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, speaking to reporters after a meeting of the National Cabinet, said that he would announce in the next 24 hours when the new restrictions would come into place.

"We're in the middle of a global pandemic that is raging. And Australia has been successful throughout this pandemic … to have very effective border arrangements," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. "There will continue to be the opportunity for those to return from places like India but in very controlled circumstances."

Australia currently allows about 5,800 citizens or permanent residents to enter its territory each week before quarantining for two weeks in hotels. It is not clear how many of these are typically from India each week.

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Australia limits flights from India