Coronavirus: Queensland’s Hamilton Island latest victim of lockdown
One of Australia’s most popular and lucrative islands has been shut down for the foreseeable future to tourists and nonresidents.
The largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island, has been forced to shut down over the growing coronavirus outbreak.
The luxury island, which is the second most visited attraction in Queensland and attracts 150,000 visitors annually, will stop tourists visiting from March 23.
In a statement sent to news.com.au, an island spokesperson said the decision to close was “difficult”.
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“Following the Australian Government’s announcement restricting all non-essential travel, Hamilton Island will no longer be able to welcome guests from March 23,” the statement read.
“This decision is temporary and we will be watching the advice from the Government closely in the coming weeks.
“Due to these circumstances, Hamilton Island has had to make the difficult decision to temporarily stand down areas of its business operations. Hamilton Island will progressively resume duties for staff who have been stood down as soon as the Australian Government allows businesses to recommence normal trading and as guest numbers return.”
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The announcement of the island’s closure comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison advised that all non-essential domestic travel should be cancelled to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“After consulting with premiers and chief ministers overnight, we have decided that we are moving immediately to recommend against all non-essential travel in Australia,” Mr Morrison said on Sunday.
“All non-essential travel should be cancelled.
“Work-related and compassionate grounds, those types of arrangements, is essential but also essential supplies and other important arrangements needed to keep Australia running.”
From 4pm on Tuesday, South Australia will close its borders meaning all people who enter the state will be forced into 14 days isolation or face penalties, with SA Police staffing 12 border patrol stations.
Health workers, emergency services, freight and vital goods will continue to be permitted.
Western Australia will also shut its borders from 1.30pm on Tuesday, and anyone who enters from that time will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
WA Premier Mark McGowan also revealed the state was looking at acquiring hotels to convert into isolation zones, and Rottnest Island could be turned into a quarantine zone.
Tasmania was the first state or territory to introduce a ban on visitors, with all “non-essential” travellers also facing a 14-day self-isolation period.
Announcing the upgraded measures, Premier Peter Gutwein defined essential travellers as “those that are important to our health effort, or to an emergency situation, or those that keep our trade links running”.
It follows the March 15 introduction of a Tasmanian Arrivals Card for international travellers entering the state.
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