Melbourne hotels brace for quarantine lockdown, beachgoers slammed for selfish display
Luxury hotels in Melbourne are preparing to be turned into state-run isolation centres, ahead of strict traveller quarantine rules that will see potential coronavirus carriers placed in lockdown on premises. It comes after beachgoers were blasted for ignoring advice to stay at home.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. For full access to trusted news from the Herald Sun and Leader, get a free four-week digital subscription here.
Hotels across Melbourne have prepared to go into lockdown and turn into quarantine hubs for international travellers coming into Australia.
Luxury hotels across the city, along with motels, caravan parks and student accommodation residences, are to act as state-run isolation centres after the directive from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison begin at 11.59pm Saturday.
Some 1500 travellers were to land in Melbourne after midnight Sunday, making them the first arrivals subjected to the tough new measures.
A fleet of 85 buses from SkyBus are to be used to transport new arrivals to hotel quarantines. Premier Daniel Andrews said hotels had come forward to offer more than 2600 rooms, of which 5000 were ready to go.
“We have enough rooms. We have a very strong partnership between hotel booking providers, as well as transport connections, police, the Department of Health and, over time, the ADF may provide us with support,” the Premier said.
Lee Davey, the general manager of five-star CBD hotel QT Melbourne, said his hotel was “ready to go” if the government called on his establishment to take in travellers for a 14-day quarantine.
“Now we’re going into that mode of, ‘how do we support the government so we can get rid of this and we can all go back to some form of normality?’,” Mr Davey told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“We need to be ready to help so we can get rid of this. This is how we’re treating it.
“It’s not about the financial side of things. It’s about doing what we can do to help and if that means assisting the government with quarantine then we’ll do it.”
The hotel manager said that while he wasn’t nervous about potentially having people with COVID-19 on the premises, the hotel was prepared to scale up its safety and security procedures.
“We’ll treat it exactly how it needs to be treated and I know every hotel that’s in the same position would do the same thing,” Mr Davey said.
“We need to act with caution. The most important people to us are our staff and making sure they’re safe is (our priority).”
BEACHGOERS SLAMMED FOR SELFISH DISPLAY
Victoria is on the brink of tough new restrictions on people leaving their houses after many today ignored pleas to stay inside in order to safeguard others.
The new restrictions are expected to be announced imminently a display of selfishness saw many beaches and parks full despite Premier Daniel Andrews telling the state this morning that “you need to stay at home’’.
The Sunday Herald Sun witnessed car parks full to capacity and hundreds of people enjoying the sunshine on the Surf Coast.
The state’s Chief Health Officer labelled the behaviour “really crap” and warned that the nation would have 100,000 people infected with coronavirus in the next two to three weeks if people did not change their behaviour immediately.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said: “It’s hard to change habits … but with 3000 cases of COVID in Australia this week, we’re headed to 100,000 in two to three weeks without change.”
On Sunday night, the National Cabinet will meet to discuss stage three restrictions and Mr Andrews today warned that if Victorians did not stay home “people will die”.
It comes as Victoria’s number of coronavirus cases has skyrocketed to 685, with 111 cases confirmed overnight and one of Melbourne’s ritziest areas revealed as a hot spot for coronavirus cases.
The number of community transmissions has increased, and there are 21 cases in hospital, of which three are in intensive care.
After hundreds of people flocked to the coast, beaches on the Surf Coast and Mornington Peninsula were closed later in the day as families and surfers hit the waves, sunbaked and picnicked on the foreshore.
City beaches had already been closed on Friday.
“We’ve taken this action after evidence today there was still large gatherings of people at a number of beaches in the Shire,” Surf Coast Mayor Rose Hodge said tonight.
“This action is line with Mr Andrews’ strong message that people who can stay home, must stay home.”
Earlier today, Mr Andrews said: “(It’s a) beautiful day today.
“Sadly, you need to stay home. The fact that it’s sunny, the fact that it’s school holidays, this is no ordinary school holidays, this is no ordinary autumn day.
“And this is going to be the case for weeks to come.”
In contrast to recent scenes at Bondi and St Kilda beaches, it was mostly families and middle-aged couples the Sunday Herald Sun observed spending time in the sun on the Surf Coast yesterday, not teens and millennials.
Surfers were also out in force.
While most surfed solo, some hung out together, waiting for waves.
It’s understood some surfers also made their way to little-known Victorian beaches and “secret” surf spots, after news spread police would be patrolling popular beaches and they could be fined if they were caught congregating.
Families said they were conscious of keeping their distance from others but decided to bring their kids to the beach for fresh air and exercise after having been cooped up inside all week.
And surfers said they were confident they could not catch COVID-19 when surfing metres from others in the ocean.
Torquay locals told the Sunday Herald Sun numbers in the surf and on the beach and foreshore were a fraction of usual for sunny days, let alone the start of school holidays.
Surf life savers, who are no longer actively patrolling, agreed the beach was much quieter than usual.
But Melbourne’s Albert Park was far from quiet, with scores of people out exercising and families and friends enjoying activities together.
The Surf Coast joins the Mornington Peninsula and Port Phillip councils in closing beaches.
Cr Ross Hodge said people could still “surf, swim, run, walk or exercise their dog, provided they observe social distancing rules”, but could not “sit down or gather on the beach”.
Victoria Police said no fines had been issued for breaches of COVID-19 regulations as of 3pm today.
“We have seen the vast majority of the community treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves up until this point today,” Commander David Clayton said.
Meanwhile, haunting drone video of a deserted St Kilda beach has been released after council closed it to the public on Friday.
Victoria Police’s drone unit patrolled the foreshore between Port Melbourne and Elwood from the air today, enforcing social distancing measures in response to COVID-19.
The City of Port Philip shut the beach on Friday afternoon after hordes of people gathered to enjoy the sunshine, openly flouting social-distancing rules.
In contrast on Saturday, the usually bustling beach along the St Kilda foreshore was eerily empty, with barely a soul walking on the sand or entering the water.
Individuals caught breaking social distancing and quarantine rules face fines of up to $1,652, or $9,913 for businesses.
— With Tamara McDonald, Geelong Advertiser
CORONAVIRUS CASES SKYROCKET
Community transmission of coronavirus has continued to gain speed in Victoria.
Among the 111 new COVID-19 cases confirmed today, 21 are believed to have occurred through community transmission – up from nine just two days ago.
Three patients remain in intensive care fighting coronavirus, while general hospital admissions have risen to 21.
Although there were no more deaths recorded overnight, Victoria’s confirmed cases has jumped to 685.
Of the total cases, 191 people have recovered from their illness. More than 30,100 Victorians have been tested for COVID-19.
Cases in regional Victoria have now passed 100.
Of the state’s 685 cases, 550 are in metropolitan Melbourne and 117 in the regions with ages ranging from eight to 88.
Mr Andrews said the massive increase underlined how important it was for Victorians to follow isolation and social distancing rules.
“The vast majority of cases – 90 per cent – across Victoria are either those who have travelled themselves overseas or are close contacts of people who have travelled overseas,” Mr Andrews said.
“That’s why we pushed yesterday to do more to quarantine those people who are coming back to Australia having been overseas.
“This is the right thing to, it’s the smart thing to do.”
Mr Andrews outlined the new measures that would enable returning Victorians to quarantine at hotels after returning from overseas.
He said that there would be between 1000 and 1500 overseas travellers due to land in Melbourne after midnight tonight.
He said that 26,000 hotel rooms had been offered by hotels across Victoria, and that 5000 were ready for occupancy now.
Mr Andrews confirmed that 2800 hotel rooms were being held for tonight, with 85 Skybuses ready to move returning travellers from Melbourne Airport to hotels, assisted by Victoria Police officers, private security guards, and Australian Defence Force members.
Mr Andrews said that cruise ships that have arrived in Melbourne would only be refuelling and receiving supplies.
“No one will be getting off those ships,” he said.
“No chance.”
MORNINGTON PENINSULA BEACHES CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Beaches along the popular Mornington Peninsula have closed today, as the local council follows the lead of the City of Port Phillip, who closed St Kilda beach yesterday after hundreds of beachgoers were busted flouting social distancing recommendations.
BOM duty forecaster Christopher Arvier said that the warm weather will stick around all weekend.
“Today’s we’re headed for a top of 28C but it’s going to be the last nice day looking into the week ahead,” Mr Arvier said.
“We do tend to see a few warmer days this late in March but this is the one day where it will be hard to resist heading outside and going to the beach, but we won’t be getting up into the high 20s again for a while.
“It’s set to stay quite nice tonight heading into 19 degrees so it does have that summery feel.
“Tomorrow is set to hit about 26, staying dry in the morning with clouds developing and showers in the afternoon.”
While warm weather may make the beach an attractive option this weekend, Mornington Peninusla mayor Sam Hearn said that spending the day at the beach was not an option.
“We understand that our community will want to continue to enjoy our beaches but this action is about curbing the spread of coronavirus,” he said.
“We all need to do our part to protect ourselves and our community so our message to our residents and visitors to the Shire is please don’t congregate on our beaches.”
The beach closure is effective immediately, and the council is co-ordinating regular surveillance to ensure the ban is enforced.
DAVID JONES TO REMAIN OPEN AMID CRISIS
David Jones’ flagship stores will remain open after rival Myer said it would close its doors on Sunday.
The retail giant issued a buoyant statement on Saturday vowing to keep its stores open for as long as possible.
But the company has closed its stable of small-format fashion stores — Country Road, Mimco, Witchery, Trenery and Politix.
That will see 5000 staff stood down and 280 Country Road stores will remain closed for four weeks.
“We have made the decision to continue to keep our large-format physical stores open as long as we are confident that we can operate our stores safely and to the standards required by all current government health and safety directives,” a David Jones spokesman said.
“The strict implementation of social distancing protocols has become a dominant feature of our stores which are large format, well spaced and cashless and therefore enable social distancing to be properly observed and promoted, and for enhanced hygiene standards to be implemented.”
It comes as supermarket giant Coles hired more than 7000 people across the country over two weeks to meet customer demand and is now seeking 5000 more workers.
Coles chief executive Steven Cain said the company would continue working with other major employers and unions to find jobs for people in other businesses hit by slowdowns and shutdowns.
“Coles is doing everything we can to support jobs and the economy through this challenging time, while also ensuring we can provide groceries for all Australians,” he said.
A big chunk of Australia’s $325 billion retail industry has been “decimated” by coronavirus fears, with more pain to come, says a key retail group.
Myer will shut its doors from close of business on Sunday, with 10,000 staff members stood down for at least four weeks.
Very few customers were seen entering the Bourke St store on Saturday on what normally would be a busy trading day. Similar scenes were common through the whole city amid strong calls by governments for people to avoid leaving home if possible.
Premier Investments, which owns brands like Just Jeans, Portmans, Peter Alexander and Smiggle, has also shut down its stores for a month with 9000 staff stood down.
Children’s shoe retailer Shoes and Sox, which has several Victorian stores, said it had been forced to close them from Monday due to the challenges posed by social distancing rules. Most firms are continuing to sell online.
Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said he expected many other traders to close over the weekend and during the coming week. He said retailers were routinely reporting sales downturns of 75 per cent, while also faced with the problem of staff scared to keep working due to coronavirus.
“It’s carnage, it’s a decimation of the industry,” he said.
The retail industry employs about 1.3 million Australians and is worth $325 billion annually, with 40 per cent of that comprising supermarkets, which are still trading as an essential service.
State Treasurer Tim Pallas on Saturday announced more relief for small businesses affected by social distancing and shutdowns.
Revealing 30,000 grants of up to $10,000 each would be made available from tomorrow, Mr Pallas said it was not a stimulus package but “cash for survival”.
“There is clearly a fair degree of pain that is impacting on businesses — small businesses in particular,” Mr Pallas said.
NEW PRISONERS QUARANTINED
Criminals entering Victorian prisons will have to spend 14 days in quarantine under new measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Corrections Victoria have confirmed quarantine units have been set up at five prisons across the state to manage the risk of an outbreak.
The protective quarantine units have been set up at the Melbourne Assessment Prison, Metropolitan Remand Centre, Port Phillip Prison, Ravenhall Correctional Centre and Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
The new quarantine measures come into effect today and will remain in place until further notice.
Prisoners staying in the new units will have access to in-cell phone calls, video based visits, books, education material, printed exercise routines and TVs.
Prisoners in quarantine will be monitored by prison and health staff, including Aboriginal Liaison Officers and specialist mental health services.
There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Victorian prison system.
The new measure only applies to prisoners entering these facilities and not to existing inmates, Corrections Commissioner Emma Cassar confirmed.
“This measure applies to people who have been out in the community these past few weeks and that bring that exposure risk with them into custody,” she said.
ON-THE-SPOT FINES FOR THOSE FLOUTING RULES
The state’s police minister announced new police powers to issue fines to individuals and businesses breaking social distancing and quarantine rules.
Individuals caught breaking the rules can be fined up to $1,652, and businesses up to $9,913.
On the spot fines can be issued for:
– Failing to self-isolate for 14 days after returning from overseas
– Organising or attending a mass gathering
– Organising or attending a wedding that has more than five people in attendance (including the betrothed, the celebrant, and two witnesses)
– Organising or attending a funeral that has more than 10 people in attendance
– Organising an auction for the sale of a residential property.
The Premier confirmed that people would not be fined for standing less than 1.5 metres apart, stressing that the new fines would be for returning travellers not complying with self-isolation measures.
SMALL BUSINESSES OFFERED ‘CASH FOR SURVIVAL’
Treasurer Tim Pallas this morning announced further relief for small businesses greatly impacted by social distancing and shutdowns.
Revealing 30,000 grants of up to $10,000 each would be made available from Monday, Mr Pallas said it was not a stimulus package but “cash for survival”.
The cash grants will be targeted to smaller businesses such as bars, cafes, restaurants and live music venues.
“There is clearly a fair degree of pain that is impacting on businesses, small businesses in particular,” Mr Pallas said.
“I know the people are hurting and I know that there is, without doubt, along way in this journey to go.
“To the extent that we can minimise the pain – can’t make it go away – but to the extent that we can help we will.”
FEARS HOSPITAL BED BOOST NOT ENOUGH
Intensive care leaders are preparing to double the number of beds needed to get the most critically ill patients through the coronavirus pandemic in Victoria — but that may still be nowhere near enough.
Australia has 2200 intensive care unit beds, though hospitals believe they can repurpose existing machines from other areas to increase capacity to almost 5000.
Health authorities are racing to secure or manufacture a further 5000 ventilators in time for the May-June coronavirus peak.
For severe COVID-19 patients, each ICU bed is needed to take over from their own failing vital organs — such as lungs, heart and kidneys — for an average of 10 days, while they try to overcome the virus.
Victoria has 400 beds in highly-specialised ICU beds, but could boost that number to 1000 in quick time after recently acquiring additional ventilators.
The Andrews Government has a further 2000 highly sought-after ventilators on order from international providers — though doubts remain on whether they will arrive as nations fight for the precious resource.
But with the most extreme modelling showing Australia could run out of ICU beds within 10 days, no amount of new beds may be enough.
However, by following isolation and social distancing orders, The Alfred hospital ICU director Steve Mcgloughlin said Victorians could avoid the worst-case modelling and ensure the state will have enough lifesaving beds.
READ FRIDAY’S CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
INJECTION ROOM RAMP-UP
Extra precautions have been introduced at the supervised injection room in North Richmond amid fears drug users could be susceptible to the coronavirus.
Each person who enters the injection room is having their temperature tested.
Staff at the centre are also screening themselves and addicts for symptoms of the virus, and social distancing strategies are in place. But users and dealers are still congregating on the streets, disregarding social distancing rules.
A Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman said the injection room would remain open to ensure public health resources needed to fight coronavirus were not diverted by drug overdoses.
“The medically supervised injection room will play an important role in slowing the spread of coronavirus in the North Richmond community as many of its clients — a lot of who speak different languages and have no access to technology — would not otherwise have access to screening,’’ the spokeswoman said.
Yarra council workers and contractors clean the precinct daily with street sweepers.
BUSINESS, UNIONS BACK SUBSIDISED WAGES
Victoria’s peak business body has joined forces with Trades Hall in an extraordinary joint effort to lobby for wage subsidies for workers stood down during the coronavirus crisis.
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Victorian Trades Hall Council are urging the federal government to follow the lead of countries including the United Kingdom and subsidise the wages of workers instead of sending them to welfare.
They say it would ensure businesses could pay and retain their workers, adding that recovery would be “almost impossible with a disconnected workforce who have been cut off from their employers, colleagues and their normal working lives for months”.
The Herald Sun understands Treasury is considering wage subsidies but the government is opposed to a UK-style proportional scheme that would deliver more taxpayer-funded help to those on higher wages.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would unveil the third stage of his economic survival plan within days, focusing on allowing businesses that are forced to close to “hibernate” for six months.
“We want those businesses to start again. And we do not want over the course of the next six months for those businesses to be so saddled by debt, so saddled by rental payments, so saddled by other liabilities that they will not be able to start again,” he said.
MENTAL HEALTH WARNING
A tidal wave of mental health cases will overwhelm Australians as the COVID-19 tightens its grip on the country — while police are bracing for a spike in family violence.
Anxiety, depression and outbreaks of obsessive compulsive disorder have already begun and are expected to intensify beyond the end of the pandemic.
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, told the Herald Sun the mental health issues were “already hitting us”.
“It’s a complete loss of structure … One of my patients described it to me as feeling rudderless,” she said.
She said the economic carnage was a major reason why so many would suffer ill mental health, but the unprecedented isolation and disruption to daily life would have long lasting consequences.
Victoria police senior constable Alistair Parsons said police were preparing for family violence crime to rise but wouldn’t change their approach to deal with the threat.
MORE NEWS
MASS AFTER-SCHOOL CARE CLOSURES AMID VIRUS CRISIS
NURSES STOOD DOWN AS NEW QUARANTINE RULES ISSUED