Coronavirus: Victorians stranded, and now tied up in red tape

Almost 2300 people left stranded in NSW have applied to return to Victoria on compassionate or medical grounds since the Andrews government’s sudden border closure on Friday.

Cars queue to cross the border into Victoria from Albury on January 1. Picture: Simon Dallinger

Almost 2300 people left stranded in NSW have applied to return to Victoria on compassionate or medical grounds since the Andrews government’s sudden border closure on Friday, but only 175 applications had been assessed as of Monday.

The applications come after more than 60,000 Victorians abandoned summer holidays to rush home in the 48 hours to midnight on January 1; tens of thousands who arrived after the cut-off are now three days into a 14-day home quarantine.

With fewer than 10 per cent of exemption applications processed, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services said more staff were being deployed to “speed up” the process.

Those who applied have had to show evidence of negative COVID-19 tests.

All three of Victoria’s new locally acquired coronavirus cases on Monday were linked to the Black Rock cluster, which now numbers 24 cases and 311 known close contacts who are isolating.

The results come after 32,468 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Monday, with Acting Premier Jacinta Allan acknowledging the significant delays tens of thousands of Victorians had endured to get tested, after centres were overwhelmed following the NSW border closure.

“We know people did experience delays … but we also saw by the afternoon wait times did significantly reduce, and today, whilst we know it will be another very busy day at our testing sites … we are expecting the sites to be able to accommodate the demand we expect,” Ms Allan said.

The Acting Premier expressed “cautious optimism” that Victoria is getting the Black Rock outbreak under control, but indicated the Andrews government is unlikely to reopen the border with NSW soon.

While NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, two were subsequently recorded.

“In terms of when will the border change and when will the restrictions change, that is absolutely all based on the public health advice, based on the circumstances on the ground here in Victoria,” Ms Allan said, citing testing levels as another factor.

“The clear plan is to get back to those zero days as quickly as possible and hold it there … Seeing what happens in NSW … does influence the decisions taken here in Victoria.”

Ms Allan announced special arrangements to enable farm workers to move between NSW and Victoria.