Travellers coming into the ACT from Melbourne’s COVID-19 hotspots will be required to quarantine for 14 days, under a new Health Direction announced by the ACT Government today (3 July).
Arrivals from Melbourne’s affected areas will be required to quarantine at their own expense or return home “at the earliest reasonable opportunity”.
Passengers on flights from Melbourne will be required to show ID upon arrival at Canberra Airport, and penalties and fines will apply to anyone who fails to comply with the new Direction.
The Victorian Government announced on 30 June that 10 Melbourne postcodes would be required to go into lockdown until at least 29 July.
“The situation in Melbourne is concerning and has evolved quickly in the past week,” said the ACT’s Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman.
“COVID-19 cases have increased significantly, and this Direction will help to protect Canberrans and our most vulnerable community members from the potential spread of COVID-19.
“We ask that people respect the Direction and not travel to the ACT from the identified hotspot areas of Melbourne.”
The Government is urging anyone already in the ACT who has been in a hotspot to quarantine for 14 days, even if they do not have any symptoms, and anyone travelling to the ACT from the greater Melbourne metropolitan area should closely monitor themselves and get tested for “even the mildest of symptoms”.
ACT sewage declared COVID-free
The new Direction comes after researchers from the ANU announced early this morning that tests of Canberra’s sewage found no traces of the virus in the ACT.
“We tested 25 samples in May from Icon Water’s sewage treatment plant, covering the whole of ACT population, and found no traces of SARS-CoV-2 RNA,” said ANU environmental epidemiologist and project lead, Aparna Lal.
“These are excellent outcomes, and show the Canberra community are listening to and following health advice and that we are all working extremely hard to stop the potential spread of COVID-19,” Dr Lal said.
For more information, including the affected Melbourne postcodes, visit the ACT COVID-19 website.
