North Melbourne players and officials in isolation after Melbourne Airport Covid-19 scare
Three Northern Territory towns have been declared high-risk with three workers from a mine site now in isolation in Tasmania. It follows an airport Covid scare for North Melbourne AFL players.
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THREE workers who recently arrived in the state from a Northern Territory mine site where there was a positive Covid-19 case are in isolation awaiting their test results, Public Health said on Sunday.
It is up from two workers previously confirmed.
Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield were declared high-risk areas by Tasmania Public Health and as of 5pm on Sunday those who have been in the areas since June 18 will not be allowed to travel to Tasmania unless approved as essential travellers.
Returning Tasmanians will also need to apply to re-enter the state and will be required to quarantine at a suitable premises for 14 days.
Anyone already in Tasmania who has recently been to the areas is not required to quarantine, but has been told to immediately self-isolate and arrange to be tested if they experience cold or flu-like symptoms.
On Saturday, Sydney, Central Coast, the Blue Mountains, and Wollongong were declared high-risk areas by Tasmanian authorities and travellers are banned from entering the state unless they are an approved essential traveller.
Public Health Director Dr Mark Veitch has urged anyone who has recently travelled interstate to monitor Tasmania’s coronavirus website as the situation with COVID-19 cases and associated restrictions around Australia is rapidly changing.
High-risk premises have also been identified in Western Australia and Queensland.
Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne said it would be a trying few weeks while the state waits to find out if any cases of the Delta variant had made it to Tasmania.
“While Tasmanians have been stepping up and getting their immunisations, our immunisation rates in Australia are way below where they should be and once again it resides with the federal government,” she said.
State government Minister Guy Barnett confirmed on Sunday that 5000 people had arrived in Tasmania from NSW since June 21.
“They must self-isolate, they must not move from self-isolation until they have a negative test and then they can move into the community,” he said.
When asked if they waited too long to shut the border, Mr Barnett said the government continued to act on health advice and keeping the Tasmanian community safe was the top priority.
“All of this makes it very clear there is an incentive to vaccinate and we encourage all Tasmanians to not wait but to vaccinate,” he said.
Roos in isolation after airport Covid-19 scare
NO one who attended the North Melbourne and Gold Coast Suns game in Hobart on the weekend is required to self isolate despite the Kangaroos players now being in isolation.
The Victorian government declared Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 3 a tier 2 exposure site between 8am and 9am on Saturday.
The North Melbourne charter flight containing players and officials travelling to the game at Blundstone Arena on Saturday left the terminal during this time, so they have been asked to isolate until they return a negative test.
Premier Peter Gutwein said this isolation did not apply to other people in their households who were able to go about their normal activities without isolating or needing to be tested.
It is understood the Premier himself was one of several government officials who attended functions at the ground.
“North Melbourne had strict protocols in place for yesterday’s game with players and officials flying in before the game and flying out after the game,” Mr Gutwein said.
“In response, Public Health has advised this morning that no one who attended the ground needs to isolate, or be tested.
“This includes guests who attended functions at the ground which were attended by North Melbourne officials, with the risk being assessed as extremely low.”
Roos rise as thousands turn out to watch Suns sink
A POWERHOUSE game by midfield warrior Jy Simpkin inspired the Kangaroos to a second emotional win in their home-away-from-home and deepened the Gold Coast Suns’ winter of discontent.
North Melbourne’s first win under new coach David Noble came with a victory over fellow-Tasmanian tenant Hawthorn in Launceston in round nine.
After giving Melbourne a fright, drawing with GWS and pushing Brisbane Lions, North finally got its breakthrough win with another thriller in Hobart.
North held off Gold Coast’s fourth-quarter challenge to post a welcome nine-point win – 9.18 (72) to 9.9 (63) – in front of 6719 fans, most of whom raised the roof as the final siren sounded.
“The crowd was great,” Noble said.
“We love coming down here. We’ve been able to move some of the local kids here into our VFL team this year – I think we’ve had eight players do that.
“The support of the fans who came today was phenomenal and we really thank them.
“This one’s for our members and we can’t wait to get our supporters back to Marvel next week.”
The Suns had hoped to rebound after a flogging from Port Adelaide last week, instead they capitulated to a final-term attack by North Melbourne.
It is another black mark against under-fire coach Stuart Dew as questions intensify about his tenure on the Gold Coast.
Simpkin was brilliant from go to whoa, racking up 30 possessions, five clearances, five inside 50s and a goal.
His main partners in crime were Ben Cunnington and Luke Davies-Uniacke, while veteran ruckman Todd Goldstein had 21 disposals, 44 hit-outs and six clearances – more than any other Kangaroo.
Big Roo Nick Larkey kicked three goals as North’s best forward and speedy crumber Cameron Zurhaar kicked two when he wasn’t pinch-hitting in the middle, his second goal coming as North Melbourne’s only goal of the final term after several teammates had missed set shots.
Gold Coast’s fill-in captain Touk Miller was inspirational in the midfield with a game-high 32 disposals and Josh Corbett kicked three majors.
To add injury to insult, the Suns lost Noah Anderson to an arm injury in the final term just as the Kangaroos applied the blowtorch.
Tasmania’s favourite Sun Hugh Greenwood kicked Gold Coast’s only goal of the final term and missed one minutes later. But it was not enough to inspire a match-winning comeback.
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