Victoria’s streak of no coronavirus deaths or new cases has extended to 18 days.
Active cases remained at three on Tuesday and testing jumped dramatically in the previous 24 hours to 17,412, after Monday’s low figure of 6695.
But only four days after South Australia announced it would reopen their border on 1 December, Victorian health department officials are now meeting all SA arrivals at Melbourne airport to check for symptoms and take temperatures.
Adelaide’s northern suburbs outbreak has grown to at least 18
It comes as NSW chalked up a tenth day without any new locally-transmitted cases of the coronavirus, but authorities have urged people not to drop their guard as an outbreak in South Australia grows.
Only four cases in returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine were recorded from 8588 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.
But NSW Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jeremy McAnulty says now is not the time for NSW to let complacency creep in.
“Though there have been no new locally acquired cases in NSW recently, in the past cases have appeared following several days without cases because of transmission among people with mild symptoms,” he said.
Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said travellers would be asked where they’ve been, and if from an identified “area of risk”, requested to take a test and isolate.
“If they refuse to get tested they will be treated as a close contact and be asked to self-isolate for 14 days,” Dr Cheng said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has not ruled out closing the border with SA.
“We’ve never closed our border. I’ve never criticised others for closing theirs, they’ve done what I would’ve done if the circumstances were different,” he said.
“So I can’t take it off the table. I’ve got confidence that (SA Premier) Steven Marshall will get on top of this.
“I want a situation where every border in the country is open by Christmas.”
Also on Tuesday, Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced nearly one million Victorian households will soon be eligible for a one-off $250 payment to help with bill shock caused by lockdown restrictions.
People receiving Job Seeker, pension payments or a youth allowance can apply for the energy bonus from next February.
“More Victorians have been restricted to their homes and that’s meant of course especially during the winter period that more people have had to rely on their own power usage to keep warm,” Ms D’Ambrosio told 3AW.
“We know that comes at a cost.”
Victoria’s virus death toll stands at 819, with the national figure 907.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at https://sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW,Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.
