Stranded Australians’ Christmas border wishes inch closer
Holiday family reunions could be closer for stranded Australians after crucial border calls are made on Friday.
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South Australian families separated by COVID-19 could join loved ones for Christmas as part of plans being considered for Victoria and people stranded overseas.
Premier Steven Marshall said authorities were closely monitoring Victoria, with hopes that hard-border restrictions could be lifted within weeks.
The only spanner in the works could be a late outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, which is being closely monitored.
The State Government also will ramp up efforts to help get as many Australians stranded overseas home by Christmas, by increasing hotel-quarantine capacity in Adelaide.
Mr Marshall said he did not want to see restrictions in place for a day longer than necessary, but would take a cautious, informed approach.
He said one measure could be to allow Victorians to visit families in SA – and visa-versa – subject to quarantine arrangements.
“I think we might be in line to move back to the arrangement we had with NSW until recently whereby people would do 14 days of quarantine, but that could be done in a private home,” Mr Marshall said.
“That is logically the next step and, hopefully, by Christmas there will be further easing of restrictions.
“We will continue to see reduced restrictions based on a commensurate reduction in risk, which is what we are seeing in Victoria.
Obviously, we are being very cautious because we are still concerned that as restrictions are lifted in Victoria there is potential for further infection.”
Victoria recorded five new cases of coronavirus today, making the 14-day statewide average 6.4 – a fall from 6.6 on Wednesday.
But more cases are expected to be confirmed after a communication mix-up caused a COVID-19 outbreak to spread further through Melbourne‘s northern suburbs.
Extensive contact-tracing was under way tonight after a Year 5 student attended East Preston Islamic College while infectious, with staff and students identified as close contacts ordered to quarantine for 14 days.
A total of 500 people linked to the school and a Broadmeadows public housing block were yesterday also urged to isolate.
Political leaders at the first national cabinet meeting in more than a month will today discuss a roadmap to reopening the country by Christmas.
Meanwhile, a Qantas flight from London with 175 Australians aboard will land in Darwin today – the first of eight planes to bring vulnerable citizens home.
About 32,300 Australians overseas have told the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade they want to return.
Mr Marshall said the government would look to “increase the capacity of quarantine hotels” to help with the process.
The results of a review into the nation’s hotel quarantine system will also be discussed at national cabinet.
Aged care and mental health will also be discussed.