Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Pushka]

Could this, I wonder, have anything to do with the imminent start of SA's showcase month, Mad March?

Ya reckon? Timing is exquisite. The Fringe was the very last activity SA had last year then everything slammed shut within a day or so. Questions raised as to safety at the time.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Correct they are.
Public Health Alert NSW

Queensland, NSW, Victoria impose new restrictions on Auckland arrivals after New Zealand outbreak​

Overnight, the three states reclassified Auckland as a hotspot and anyone arriving from today will no longer be free to skip quarantine. Instead they will be required to spend two weeks in hotel isolation and some may even decide to fly straight back, health officials said.

Queensland, NSW, Victoria impose new restrictions on Auckland arrivals after New Zealand outbreak

www.9news.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

The NSW restrictions are only on passengers from hotspots (Auckland) arrivals on flights from Wellington or Christchurch or Queenstown do not have to HQ unless they have been in a hotspot.

Nsw closed to NZ earlier in Feb, then reinstated the bubble and now have some restrictions for Auckland only.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The NSW restrictions are only on passengers from hotspots (Auckland) arrivals on flights from Wellington or Christchurch or Queenstown do not have to HQ unless they have been in a hotspot.

Nsw closed to NZ earlier in Feb, then reinstated the bubble and now have some restrictions for Auckland only.

Vic following Queensland and reintroducing 14 days HQ for NZ arrivals, but Vic isnt taking any international arrivals anyway so seems like a pointless announcement.

To enforce it Qld and Vic would need to check all flights and cars coming in from NSW who is allowing NZ arrivals without HQ unless they have been in a venue of concern. Of course they wont have man power to police it.

Academic, the majority of NZ flights into SYD are from AKL. These passengers have to go into hotel quarantine.
Anyone from AKL entering SYD or MEL must go into hotel quarantine. VIC is not closed to “NZ arrivals”, QLD effectively is.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Covid restrictions are certainly a cottage industry.

From Vic website

New Zealand travel bubble update​

From Wednesday 24 February all flights arriving from Auckland into Victoria will be regarded as ‘red zone’ arrivals and anyone arriving will be required to enter mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days.

Those who arrived in Melbourne from Auckland yesterday, Tuesday 23 February, are asked to get a COVID-19 test immediately and quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

The Department of Health is in the process of contacting impacted travellers and will provide them with advice about where to get tested.

Information for overseas travellers | Coronavirus Victoria

Frequently asked questions about international arrivals and quarantine requirements.

www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au

Not sure whether another update due/announced today 25/2

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Interesting phrasing by Qld - not sure how they stop flights. I’m guessing that quarantine is Qld’s actual restriction

Following increased COVID-19 community transmission in New Zealand, Queensland will remove the country as a ‘safe travel country'.

From 6pm AEST 24 February 2021, all ‘green flights’ coming into Queensland from New Zealand will stop immediately and anyone who is permitted to travel to Queensland from New Zealand will be required to quarantine on arrival.

In addition to removing New Zealand as a ‘safe travel country’, we are also recommending all travellers who have been in New Zealand on or since 21 February 2021, to come forward, get tested and isolate until you have your results.

This also applies to anyone who has entered from 6 February who has not already had a test after entering Queensland.

Latest Queensland COVID-19 updates

Recent COVID-19 changes in Queensland

www.qld.gov.au

What's changed from 6pm AEST 24 February 2021​

• New Zealand is no longer a safe travel zone country. Anyone from New Zealand who travels to Australia will need to quarantine for 14 days in government arranged accommodation at their own expense.

Requirements for international arrivals

All people arriving in Queensland from overseas have to self-quarantine in nominated premises for 14 days.

www.qld.gov.au

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Tasmania has joined the fray

Auckland is now high risk, meaning cannot enter Tas (return flight?)

Travel alert | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Important information for travellers

coronavirus.tas.gov.au

High-risk areas and premises​

Travellers who have spent time in a high-risk area or premises in the 14 days before arriving in Tasmania are not permitted to enter Tasmania, unless approved as an Essential Traveller.

If entry is approved, there may be a quarantine requirement in government-designated accommodation (fees can apply).

Travellers who have spent time in a high-risk area or premises need to provide information to help determine entry and quarantine requirements for travel to Tasmania.

 

[drron]

Has Premier Mark gone to sleep.At this rate he will be last to close to NZ -or has he always been closed to NZ?

Yes I know that NZ-PER flights are exceedingly unlikely at this point in time.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Academic, the majority of NZ flights into SYD are from AKL. These passengers have to go into hotel quarantine.
Anyone from AKL entering SYD or MEL must go into hotel quarantine. VIC is not closed to “NZ arrivals”, QLD effectively is.

Yes the Vic wording is.

 

[Lynda2475]

It's not just Academic there are NZ flights into SYD which originate from airports other than Auckland. Those arrivals do not have to HQ in NSW but do in QLD (but perhaps QLD flights all originate in Auckland). Qf have a flight toay from Christchurch to Sydney for example.

Now Vic are supposedly not taking international arrivals at MEL at all but have made multiple announcements today re NZ, so maybe they have kept NZ flights despite blocking all other international passenger flights.

 

[dajop]

Now Vic are supposedly not taking international arrivals at MEL at all but have made multiple announcements today re NZ, so maybe they have kept NZ flights despite blocking all other international passenger flights.

Looking at FlightAware, yes they kept them. I'm not sure why they would have "blocked" them. Blocking related to the quarantine breaches, these "quarantine free" flights had nothing to do with that. I wonder if they will allow these flights to be maintained though (demand might go down anyway) , as now they would be aught up in the suspension of international flights whilst quarantine issues are resolved.

 

[OZDUCK]

Has Premier Mark gone to sleep.At this rate he will be last to close to NZ -or has he always been closed to NZ?

Yes I know that NZ-PER flights are exceedingly unlikely at this point in time.

Unchanged as far as I am aware -:

"Travellers entering WA from New Zealand via another state. Interstate arrivals who have spent time in New Zealand in the previous 14 days will be required to self-quarantine for 14-days at a suitable premises and present for a COVID-19 test on Day 11 of their time in WA. Travellers arriving in WA directly from New Zealand will be considered international travellers"

 

[Lynda2475]

Dont think WA was ever part of the quarantine free bubble.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Looking at FlightAware, yes they kept them. I'm not sure why they would have "blocked" them. Blocking related to the quarantine breaches, these "quarantine free" flights had nothing to do with that. I wonder if they will allow these flights to be maintained though (demand might go down anyway) , as now they would be aught up in the suspension of international flights whilst quarantine issues are resolved.

Yes there are many flights still into MEL from multiple overseas countries. Freight still continues apace.

There could well be essential workers too, or the odd special exemption traveller (there were in the previous period when HQ was closed to general travellers in Vic).

I guess, but do not know, that some passengers may still be able to fly out.

Plus with NZ travellers as we have seen in the past they can arrive in Australia via one airport, but then arrive later in Vic by various means.

 

[dajop]

I guess, but do not know, that some passengers may still be able to fly out.

Right throughout the second wave in Victoria (when MEL was not taking inbound passengers from overseas) airlines were carrying passengers out of MEL, even though they were carrying no pax into MEL. I don't see any reason why it would be different now, assuming that it is freight that's driving these services anyway.

 

[Lynda2475]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1364728194906025985

Hope they update the graphics format going forward to show vaccinations given (maybe 1st doses, 2nd doses, % of adult population).

 

[Pushka]

 

[Anna]

View attachment 242193

At 340 vaccines per day it will take about 13 years to vaccinate the SA population

 

[Pushka]

At 340 vaccines per day it will take about 13 years to vaccinate the SA population

Might move interstate methinks.

 

[stryker]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1364728194906025985

Hope they update the graphics format going forward to show vaccinations given (maybe 1st doses, 2nd doses, % of adult population).

How is it if Covid tests are required before boarding overseas that so many +ve tests happen on arrival?

I'd hate to speculate, but what?