Zero locally acquired cases, seven new cases in hotel quarantine as cloud hangs over Australian Open

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Victoria recorded zero locally acquired cases of coronavirus on Sunday – an 11-day run without any community transmission – but seven cases were detected in hotel quarantine, up from three the day before.

Three of those cases in hotel quarantine were detected in passengers on two chartered flights to Melbourne for the Australian Open. Almost 50 players are now quarantining in their hotel rooms for 14 days.

There are now 30 active cases across Victoria.

NSW recorded six new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, all close contacts of the western Sydney case reported on Saturday.

There were no new locally acquired cases in Queensland, and just two cases in hotel quarantine.

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Victoria’s Energy and Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said on Sunday morning that she had no announcements to make about easing border restrictions with NSW, but flagged the Andrews government would be satisfied with its northern neighbour following sustained periods of no community transmission of coronavirus.

“It is fair to say that with every day that goes by where there are zero locally transmitted cases in other states, it is a day we get closer here in Victoria to be able to ease restrictions of people coming back into Victoria,” Ms D’Ambrosio said on Sunday morning.

Jacob Glover, from Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne’s south-west, is one of hundreds of Victorians now returning home from Brisbane after it was changed from a “red zone” to an “orange zone”.

Returning travellers must have a permit and self-isolate until they return a negative COVID test.

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The 20-year-old flew touched down in Melbourne on Saturday night after a post-lockdown holiday. He said he was caught up in the border closure because he works in retail and couldn’t take a holiday in December.

Mr Glover said upon arrival at Melbourne airport, he and his fellow travellers were herded onto a bus and taken to a screening area nearby.

“There were lots of people in protective gear,” he said. “They basically asked us for our IDs and our permits. A few people said we have 70 hours to get tested and [asked us] ‘Do you agree?’. Then there was a guy saying, ‘You can get tested here’ … so I got tested at the airport.

“Now I’m at home waiting for my results. They said 12 to 24 hours… so hopefully I get my results soon.”

The easing of border restrictions between Victoria and Queensland coincides with an easing of mask-wearing and Victoria’s official return to work.

From 11.59pm on Sunday, it will no longer be mandatory for Victorians to wear masks in indoor settings such as offices. The ruling paves the way for up to 50 per cent of office workers to return to their desks from Monday.