Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has requested overseas flights be directed elsewhere for at least two weeks while the state battles a significant spate of COVID-19, with New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian declining to assist.
“NSW has borne the overwhelming burden of returning Aussies on behalf of the nation, Victoria has as well to some extent,” Ms Berekiklian said. “It’s fair given those diversions that other states take on those flights (to) Melbourne. “
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said while the ACT would cater to overseas flights, they would only allow one plane of passengers in hotel quarantine at a time.
It comes as Premier Andrews announced an investigation into the state’s hotel quarantine program, after private security guards working at the quarantine hotels were linked to the current spread of the virus.
Meanwhile several postcodes in Victoria have today woken to strict new restrictions, with the more than 310,000 residents who occupy the hotspots only able to leave the house for four reasons. They are: exercise, food, caregiving and work/school.
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Stage three coronavirus restrictions have officially been implemented in Victoria, after kicking off at 11.59pm last night.
More than 310,000 residents who occupy the 10 hotspot postcodes under new stay at home orders are only able to leave the house for four reasons.
They are: exercise, food, caregiving and work/school. The postcodes subject to the new stay-at-home orders include:
• 3012 (Brooklyn, Kingville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray)
• 3021 (Alban Vale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans)
• 3032 (Ascot Vale, High Point City, Maribyrnong, Travancore)
• 3038 (Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens)
• 3042 (Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie)
• 3046 (Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park)
• 3047 (Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana)
• 3055 (Brunswick South, Brunswick West, Moonee Vale, Moreland West)
• 3060 (Fawkner)
• 3064 (Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park and Kalkallo).
The measures will be in place until at least July 29, with fears the rest of Victoria is also headed for the same restrictions if case numbers continue to spike.
Expanding on the hotel quarantine probe, Mr Andrews said he had no choice but to divert international flights due to control breaches at accommodation sites.
“There have been unacceptable infection control breaches in hotel quarantine,” he said.
“That’s why we have cancelled those flights that would have come here through an abundance of caution.
“It is why there has been changes made in the way hotel quarantine operates and why we will have an inquiry to determine exactly what has gone on here.”
Private security guards working at the quarantine hotels have been linked to the current spread of the virus.
And the Herald Sun has published a damning report today with details about the level of breaches, including that some guards slept with hotel guests.
Read the full report here.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr certainly wasn't jumping for joy about accepting international flights as a result of the situation unfolding in Victoria, but said the capital had the capacity to assist.
"If we are asked and there are no alternatives and those people do need to get back into Australia, then we wouldn't refuse," Mr Barr said.
"But I'm not out there advocating for more of those flights to come to Canberra."
Canberra Airport looking pretty desolate. Picture: Terry Cunningham
Defending her decision not to accept international flights being diverted from Melbourne, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian took a subtle swipe at other states who'd had their coronavirus tallies reduced as a result of her accepting flights.
“Ironically, some of the other states have been able to benefit from saying they’ve got zero cases because we’ve taken care of their people here in New South Wales and counted them as our cases in quarantine,” the Premier said.
“And so all I’m suggesting is perhaps for consideration be given.
“And the Prime Minister was very open to this because New South Wales has borne the overwhelming burden of returning Aussies on behalf of the nation.
“At the moment we’ve got 4800 (people) in hotel quarantine we’re looking after on behalf of the nation. And that’s why I think it’s fair for other states to also accept some of those flights.”
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMihQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy9hdXN0cmFsaWEvY29yb25hdmlydXMtYXVzdHJhbGlhLWxpdmUtdXBkYXRlcy9saXZlLWNvdmVyYWdlLzE0YzA4MTUyMDAxOGRjOTE3MDU2NDgzMGQxM2MxNjA50gGJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm5ld3MuY29tLmF1L3dvcmxkL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzL2F1c3RyYWxpYS9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1hdXN0cmFsaWEtbGl2ZS11cGRhdGVzL2xpdmUtY292ZXJhZ2UvMTRjMDgxNTIwMDE4ZGM5MTcwNTY0ODMwZDEzYzE2MDkvYW1w?oc=5
2020-07-01 14:02:45Z
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