Coronavirus NSW: QLD border opens but Sydney shut out
NSW Health have issued an alert for Cabramatta High School after a student tested positive for COVID-19. It comes as Queensland expanded its border bubble to all of NSW except for residents from Greater Sydney. SEE THE BANNED SUBURBS
NSW
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Tourism operators have lashed out at Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk decision to ban Sydneysiders from the sunshine state indefinitely — another ‘kick in the teeth’ for the decimated tourism industry.
While everyone else in NSW will be able to cross the border from 1am November 3, those living in 32 local government areas in Sydney (including Wollondilly but excluding The Blue Mountains and the Central Coast) will be banned.
The move effectively stops 4.8 million Sydneysiders heading north for holidays or visiting family and friends in Queensland.
It comes as NSW Health shut downs Cabramatta High School, in Sydney’s southwest, for cleaning and contract tracing after a student tested positive to COVID-19 on Friday.
All staff and students have been told to self-isolate until further notice after the school was shut for cleaning over the weekend.
NSW Health said contract tracers would prioritise HSC students at the school in an attempt to reduce any affect on their exams next week.
An public health alert for for a gym in southwest Sydney and a function room has also been extended.
Ms Palaszczuk made the Queensland announcement on the eve of the state election after previously hinting Queensland would open to NSW from November.
“The Greater Sydney region remains closed to Queensland. And that is 32 local government areas,” she said.
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said the decision was “a terrible shame and it’s equivalent of a monumental kick in the teeth for the Queensland tourism industry”.
“Sydney and Brisbane is the eighth busiest airline route in the world.
“This decision is going to compound the issue of uncertainty for operators. It’s a nightmare for airline operators because they do not have a date to work towards.
“And to say that all of NSW but Sydney can come is ridiculous – Sydney is where all the money comes from.”
TOURISM INDUSTRY REACTS
Australian Federation of Travel Agents chairman Tom Manwaring said travel agents’ income is down 98 per cent.
“This decision is a punch in the guts to travel agents, who have already copped a hammering over the past nine months,” he said.
“Livelihoods and homes are being lost as we speak. As soon as a little bit of confidence returns there is another blow.”
Qantas and Jetstar on Friday scrapped plans for more than 1000 flights next month between Sydney and Queensland.
Council of Australian Tourism Operators CEO Dennis Bunnik said “the border decisions with Queensland and Western Australia are politically led and not based in science”.
“It is causing unnecessary hardship and cruelty to so many people who are being kept apart from their family, let alone the continued economic impact it’s having on the travel and tourism industry,” he said.
“The sooner these domestic borders are opened – with a co-ordinated scientific approach – the better.”
Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long said the government’s announcement “does next to nothing for the Queensland tourism industry”.
“The majority of people who go to Queensland come from Sydney – particularly those who go to the Gold Coast and Brisbane,” he said.
“The announcement has added additional pressure on the tourism industry at a time when it needed the premier to show leadership.
“It’s another body blow for the tourism industry.”
Mr Long said Sydney hotels – which have been running at 20 per cent capacity – will be hit hard.
“If the borders were to open tomorrow we would see a doubling of that capacity within weeks,” he said.
“The corporate market in Sydney hotels will be unable to return because of this.
“This decision will cost tourism operators tens of millions of dollars.”
Hundreds of Qantas and Jetstar employees that would have gone back to work will remain stood down due to the Queensland government’s continued border closure.
“Frankly, this is ridiculous,” Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said.
“Sydney is the biggest city in Australia and it probably has one of the best track records globally of managing a virus that is clearly going to be with us for a very long time.
“Keeping the doors bolted to places that you can’t reasonably call hot spots makes no sense from a health perspective and it’s doing a lot of social and economic damage as well.
“Queensland may find that by the time it does open up to Sydney, people have made other plans.”
COVID CASES IN NSW
There were six new hotel quarantine cases of COVID-19 in NSW and no new local infections in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday however one new local case has been identified overnight.
The person is linked to the Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park.
NSW Health has also extended it’s public alert for a F45 gym with anyone who attended a class scheduled to begin five minutes before or after one of the classes at F45 Leppington at Camden Valley Way between the below dates now considered close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case.
They are urged to get tested immediately and isolate:
– Thursday 15 October 2020, 5.15pm – 6pm
– Saturday 17 October 2020, 8.10am – 9.10am
– Sunday 18 October 2020, 8.55am – 9.40am
– Monday 19 October 2020, 5.50am – 6.35am
– Tuesday 20 October 2020, 5.50am – 6.35am
– Wednesday 21 October 2020, 5.15pm – 6pm
– Thursday 22 October 2020, 6.45am – 7.30am
– Friday 23 October 2020, 9.35am – 10.20am
– Saturday 24 October 2020, 7.10am – 8.10am
– Sunday 25 October 2020, 8.55am – 9.40am
– Monday 26 October 2020, 5.50am – 6.35am
– Tuesday 27 October 2020, 6.45am – 7.30am
– Wednesday 28 October 2020, 5.50am – 6.35am
Anyone who attended the Upstairs function room, Jasmins Lebanese Restaurant, Bankstown on Thursday October 22, between 6.30pm and 9pm are also considered close contacts:
Those who visited the restaurant downstairs on that date and time are considered a
casual contact and must monitor for symptoms.
PM WANTS QLD’S ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN
Earlier on Thursday, the Prime Minister urged Ms Palaszczuk to be transparent with her decision making on the state’s borders and listen to the health advice.
“It is very hard to get a clear steer on what is behind these decisions,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
“Australia is opening up again. We’ve all committed to Australia being fully opened by Christmas and we need to move towards that.
“We’ve looked at the Queensland (health) systems and the Queensland systems are good so it is important to the economy to get moving again.”
Putney resident and executive coach Chris Gildersleeve, 60, was counting on the Queensland Government opening the borders to Sydney so he could visit his elderly mother and unwell father.
“It’s an unhappy Friday today because of the Palaszczuk announcement.
“I’ve got a father who had to have an emergency hip replacement and we managed to get in when the border was last open but since we haven’t been able to.
“It’s ridiculous …. The decision doesn’t pass the pub test.”
He says the announcement is nonsensical because NSW’s contact tracing capability is exemplar – and many holiday-goers could be left out of pocket if the rules don’t change in time for Christmas.
“We also have a situation where we booked accommodation on the Gold Coast so we’re hoping once the election is over the government will recognise NSW and Sydney are gold standard in controlling the virus.”
Meanwhile, Walgett livestock and crop farmer Jamie Warden says the news is only good for him because he has contracted Queensland workers to help him harvest his chickpea and wheat crop. The reopening of the border will mean his staff can travel between the states with more ease.
“It’s fantastic news for us. It will mean workers can move more freely across the border. We have a lot of our contractors who have come from Queensland. Now, they can easily drive back to their families. That’s huge for us.”
There were six new hotel quarantine cases of COVID-19 in NSW and no new local infections in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday however one new local case has been identified overnight.
The person is linked to the Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park.
* Additional reporting Angira Bharadwaj, Mitchell Van Homrigh, Joe Attanasio and Jeremy Pierce, Jack Morphet, Georgia Clark
HOW TO HAVE A COVID-SAFE HALLOWEEN
Spooky face masks, socially distanced trick-or-treaters and lollies in the mailbox will be the new normal this Halloween, with health experts urging households to follow COVID guidelines.
As community transmission remains low across NSW, government authorities have given the American tradition the green light — with the caveat that Halloween celebrations should be safe as well as spooky.
TOP TIPS
1 Wear face masks as part of the costume and bring hand sanitiser with you.
2 Go trick or treating with members of your household instead of a big group of friends.
3 Avoid popular “treat streets” and stay local.
4 Maintain 1.5m distance between different groups.
5 Wrap treats in individual packs and distribute them in fun ways that avoid touching each other. Lollies can be in little packets and strewn along the front fence, put in the mailbox or attached to decorations.
6 Have trick-or-treaters come to the front yard and not the front door.
7 Have hand sanitiser at the front gate or near where people are collecting treats
NSW Health guidelines encourage people to celebrate in the front yard instead of inside or at the front door, swap lolly bowls for individually wrapped treats, and to not share costume face masks.
Revellers have also been told that groups should comprise trick or treaters from just one household, not different homes.
