Melbourne Airport received its first international flights after over five months, as the State of Victoria resumed its hotel quarantine programme, according to Australian media sources.
First among the initial inbound flights was SriLankan Airlines flight UL604 from Colombo, which landed just before 8 a.m. yesterday (7), among a total of eight international passenger flights carrying 253 passengers.
Melbourne Airport had thus far been closed to such flights since July, when a number of hotel quarantine workers in Victoria were discovered to have contracted Covid-19 from guests. This incident was attributed as the start of the State’s second wave, which resulted in over 18,000 infections and 800 deaths.
As of now, Victoria has recorded 38 consecutive days without new Covid-19 cases.
The Victoria Police, supported by Australian Defence Force personnel, will be at the forefront of managing the programme. It will see participation by 11 airports and CBD hotels, including the Stamford Hotel, which was the site of one of the two outbreaks that occurred in June.
Hotel guests will have to pay about $ 3,500 for their 14-day stay, while fresh air and exercise breaks will be banned to prevent movement inside hotels.
Melbourne Airport had thus far been closed to such flights since July, when a number of hotel quarantine workers in Victoria were discovered to have contracted Covid-19 from guests. This incident was attributed as the start of the State’s second wave, which resulted in over 18,000 infections and 800 deaths.
As of now, Victoria has recorded 38 consecutive days without new Covid-19 cases.
The Victoria Police, supported by Australian Defence Force personnel, will be at the forefront of managing the programme. It will see participation by 11 airports and CBD hotels, including the Stamford Hotel, which was the site of one of the two outbreaks that occurred in June.
Hotel guests will have to pay about $ 3,500 for their 14-day stay, while fresh air and exercise breaks will be banned to prevent movement inside hotels.