Two Sydney minors who arrived in Melbourne set for quarantine Christmas

Two minors from Sydney’s northern beaches who flew into Melbourne will now be spending Christmas in quarantine.

Two minors from Sydney’s northern beaches will spend Christmas in hotel quarantine after arriving in Melbourne in defiance of new border rules.

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley said the pair flew into Melbourne Airport unaccompanied on Saturday morning in breach of the state’s permit system, which came into effect hours earlier.

As the state recorded its 50th consecutive day without community transmission after recovering from its second wave, Mr Foley said the measures had been taken to protect Victoria amid concerns over the ballooning Avalon cluster in northern Sydney.

“Two unaccompanied minors arrived from the red zone this morning and have now gone into hotel quarantining with their carer, who was self-isolating in Victoria after yesterday’s announcements,” Mr Foley said.

“That means that that family from the red zone will be spending Christmas in hotel quarantining.

“My message to anyone in the red zones of Sydney is if you come to Melbourne, you will be spending your Christmas in hotel quarantining. That’s not a position we want anyone to be in.”

Yesterday there were 0 new local cases, 2 new cases acquired overseas and 0 deaths reported. 9,780 test results were received - thanks, #EveryTestHelps us to #StaySafeStayOpen. More info: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco #COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/x41hDVjXvM

— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) December 18, 2020

The Victorian government on Friday implemented a permit system for incoming travellers from NSW and banned anyone who had visited the northern beaches hot spot.

Under the rules, which came into effect at 11.59pm on Friday, anyone who has lived in or visited the northern beaches is not eligible to enter the state.

Anyone has visited the “orange zone” of the rest of greater Sydney and the “green zone” of the remainder of NSW can apply for a border crossing permit.

Mr Foley said that on Saturday afternoon, 52,000 permits had been issued.

He reiterated that the government would consider closing its NSW border if the virus spread to other parts of Sydney.

He described the state’s COVID-free status as a “precious achievement” and did not want to see it go through a third outbreak.

“There is the chance that COVID has seeded across the COVID Sydney. If that is the case - and I stress that’s an if - we will have no choice to declare all of Sydney a red zone,” Mr Foley said.

He added: “If there is any evidence that the areas of greater Sydney have had the virus seeded into them, then I’m sure our public health officials will consider that. Then we will act on that evidence.”

Passengers from Sydney flock to Melbourne for Christmas. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The state is now on edge as NSW residents flock across the border for Christmas.

Regional NSW residents are considered in the “green zone” and can freely cross the border so long as they apply for a permit.

But they must get tested if they show symptoms.

COVID testing is voluntary for people coming from the greater Sydney orange zone.

“Victorians are strongly advised not to travel to Sydney, as conditions are expected to deteriorate and you may not be able to re-enter without undertaking hotel quarantine for 14 days,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement.

“DHHS is contacting all airline passengers who travelled from NSW and arrived into Victoria from 11 December.

“Any passengers who have travelled from the Northern Beaches and other NSW exposure sites from 11 December will be required to get tested and self-quarantine for 14 days from the date they were last in a red zone.”