Australia ups number of citizens permitted to return amid COVID

Australia is planning to increase the number of citizens and permanent residents allowed to return to the country each week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, as local COVID-19 cases decreased to single digits.

Since July the country limited the amount of locals allowed to return every week in a bid to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

The cap on international arrivals will increase by 140 in Western Australia and by 150 in Queensland over the next month.

Morrison said the authorities hoped that 26,000 Australians who are currently overseas will be able to return to Australia by Christmas.

Another group of Australians who have been stuck overseas touched down on Friday afternoon in Darwin.

The national cabinet of the Australian Government also have committed to reopening the country's internal borders by Christmas with the possible exception of Victoria state.

Victoria has recorded just one new infection in the past 24 hours.

There are now only 100 active cases, the lowest since June 19.

The southern state still has lockdown protocols in place, sparking some protests.