Some 39,000 Australians trapped abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic have registered to return home, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday, noting that the highest number of over 10,000 is from India.

Addressing a press conference after holding the 32nd National Cabinet where leaders discussed Australia’s economic recovery after COVID-19, Morrison said over 45,950 Australian citizens have been repatriated since September 18 this year and almost 39,000 are still registered to return. "The biggest area, the biggest number of people seeking to come home is from India. There are over 10,000 there. There are about 5,000 in the UK and there are a range of other countries. We are constantly monitoring that level of Australians who are seeking to come home," he said.

Our prime priority is Australians returning home. But we will continue to monitor through contact directly with people overseas about the need to return home, Morrison said.

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