Victoria lockdown: travel, movement cut amid Covid-19 case spike
Anguish and anger have marked the state’s response as it faces a fourth shutdown. It’s sparked a rush on Covid tests, toilet paper and, in some cases, the border.
They may have been here before, but that doesn’t make Covid-19 lockdown any easier for more than six million Victorians.
A cluster of cases in Melbourne’s north has hit 25, with 11 reported today, and the state’s residents face a week of new restrictions from 11.59pm.
Ten thousand close contacts have been ordered into isolation, and 150 venues earmarked as exposure sites.
Four certified reasons to leave home — to buy food and medicine; work and education; care giving; limited exercise — have a fifth exemption: a Covid vaccination.
Reaction to the measures announced by acting Premier James Merlino was swift. Among them was the now obligatory rush for toilet paper; hasty rearranging of travel arrangements; and, for the fortunate few, an exit from the state altogether.
A rush on testing facilities and vaccine hubs was the glimmer of good news amid the government’s “circuit breaker” announcement.
Panic buying
The relative trickle of the past few days became a flood as shelves in some supermarkets across the state were stripped bare.
Pleas from the Acting Premier to resist panic buying seemingly fell on deaf ears.
“There is absolutely no reason to panic buy,” Mr Merlino said. “Everything we need, in terms of our goods and services on the supermarket shelves is there.
“There is absolutely no reason to panic buy. Please don’t do it.”
In Bentleigh... no toilet paper minutes after lockdown announced... why is this always the response... @TheTodayShowpic.twitter.com/Lzrvt0Dp1m
— Izabella Staskowski (@IzaStaskowski) May 27, 2021
Flights cancelled
Airlines started axing flights in and out of Melbourne before the lockdowns were announced.
Qantas cancelled 15 flights on Thursday, and Virgin Australia 10 flights. Both carriers expect to make further changes as the lockdown unfolds.
Regional Express (Rex) scrapped three Melbourne-Adelaide flights, in response to passenger cancellations, but was continuing with Melbourne-Sydney services for the time being.
Passengers on affected flights are being contacted by the airlines and offered refunds, rebookings or travel credits.
Virgin Australia has urged passengers to avoid contacting the call centre, if they are not travelling in the next 72-hours to limit call-waiting times.
“While most services in and out of Melbourne today are operating as normal, we are adjusting our forward schedule to better reflect changing travel demand and booking trends,” a Virgin Australia spokesman said.
Previous lockdowns have cost airlines millions of dollars in lost revenue, with Qantas revealing the three-day Brisbane lockdown before Easter amounted to a $29m blow to earnings.
The lockdown comes just as Melbourne Airport was seeing a rebound in domestic travellers following a frightful 2020.
Sydney-Melbourne returned to the world’s top five busiest air routes in May, with capacity of more than 600,000 seats for the month.
Scramble for the borders
Callers to Melbourne’s 3AW on Thursday morning said they were hitting the road to get out of the state.
“I’m heading off to Sydney now, in the car,” one caller said. “I’m going straight right through, no stops. I just want to get to Sydney.
“Yesterday morning I left Melbourne at 3 o’clock – there were so many cars loaded, getting to Sydney,” a second said.
“I know a couple who took off yesterday in a caravan – they were meant to go in a few months,” another said.
“My brother was planning a trip to WA, driving, he was meant to leave this morning but he left yesterday morning instead,” another caller said.
Retail hammered
The Australian Retailers Association says the week-long shutdown will cost more than $1 billion in lost trade.
With no JobKeeper to fall back on, many small businesses will struggle without some form of government assistance.
It’s not much better for the big end of town. Crown Resorts, which received more than $200m in JobKeeper amid lockdowns last year says it will close its gaming, retail, food and drink facilities – except for some takeaway businesses – but continue paying staff.
Its hotel accommodation will remain open for “approved purposes”.
Sporting events left hanging
Crowds have been shut out of all AFL games in Melbourne this weekend because of the state’s stage 3 lockdown.
Marvel Stadium has joined the MCG ad a hotspot from last weekend’s round of football.
The Adelaide Crows were due to fly to Melbourne to face the Tigers on Sunday, but that game is likely to be played at Giants Stadium in Sydney
Richmond announced plans to flee Melbourne at 4pm on Thursday as the AFL scrambles to keep Round 11 alive.
The league will be able to continue to play AFL games even if Greater Melbourne is locked down because of the special exemption they were granted to continue the 2020 season.
The NRL’s showpiece series, State of Origin, is scheduled to be played at the MCG on June 9, just days after the end of lockdown. The NRL is believed to have plans to play the game in Adelaide or Perth if Melbourne is ruled out.
Supercars has been forced to postpone this weekend’s round at Winton due to Victoria’s escalating Covid crisis.
The series was due to head to the country Victorian circuit near Benalla for the fifth round of the championship, but the state’s looming lockdown has put the round on hold.
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