NSW records 173 new virus cases a day after borders reopen

Another 173 Covid cases and four deaths have been recorded in NSW as figures continues to steadily decline while vaccine rates grow.

The new figures came a day after international borders reopened to NSW and regional travel was allowed again.

Emotions were running high at Sydney Airport on Monday with family and friends reunited as the first flights arrived and departed Australia.

The country’s international borders had reopened after 582 days of Covid-19 restrictions and travellers were eager to reunite with loved ones overseas following months of painful separation and missed milestones.

Emotions were running high as Carolyn Chambers and her five-year-old son Ephraim prepared to check-in for the 5.55pm QF1 – the first plane to London.

“It’s a bit of both happy and sad,” she said of their trip to her hometown of Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

“I’m expecting everyone to be very emotional after not being able to do normal family events. My parents haven’t seen their grandchild in more than two years.”

More to come