It was the news we were expecting, but probably something we didn't want to hear - confirmation from Prime Minister Scott Morrison that Australia's borders will remain closed indefinitely.

It was a tough pill to swallow, but it really wasn't that surprising. COVID-19 remains our greatest threat. As of Sunday, there was more than 157 million global cases, and more than 3.2 million deaths worldwide.

While life in Australia, fortunately, has continued to gradually return to some resemblance of 'normality' in recent months, we only have to look to places like India to remind ourselves of what a privileged position we're in.

And while we have been successful in containing recent outbreaks, coupled with the gradual rollout of our greatest weapon in the vaccine - we are far from out of the woods yet.

For governments, it's a double edged sword they have been grappling with since the pandemic began. On one side, pressure to stand firm and ensure public safety is maintained.

On the other, the varying sectors being crippled by restrictions who are crying out for some relief. There's also the estimated 30,000 Australians stranded overseas, unable to return to the protection they are entitled to.

So what are our options? We've been told Australia could face up to 1000 COVID-19 cases a week if our borders were to reopen. We had also been promised that all Australians would have at least received their first vaccine by the end of this year. Now, there is no timetable.

So while the government can say they are in "no hurry" to open borders, the sentiment seems to fly in the face of the urgency by which we should be looking for safe solutions for a divide that continues to worsen.

All eyes will be on the details of Tuesday's federal budget, including plans to stimulate the economy with renewed domestic strategies. But while this might offer some relief at financial level, it will mean very little to the tens of thousands of Australians unable to come home.

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