Australia has recorded 43 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, as it readies to welcome international tourists on Monday for the first time in nearly two years, Reuters reports.

Australia's deaths were reported mainly in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, states that continue to see several thousand daily cases or more. Victoria, Australia's second-most populous state, will open a new quarantine hub for unvaccinated international residents on Monday.

"The Omicron variant has shown us we must continue to be flexible in our pandemic response — and the purpose-built [hub] will be vital to how we manage pandemics today and into the future," said Lisa Neville, the state's police minister responsible for quarantining.