None of the States or Territories recorded any new cases of community transmission on Monday – but the Federal Government has flagged NSW will change its procedures for international arrivals after two tourists were able to fly straight from Sydney without the right exemptions.
On Saturday, a Sydney police officer mistakenly allowed the 53-year-old woman and her 15-year-old son to board a direct flight to Melbourne without appropriate exemptions.
Authorities allegedly didn’t realise the travellers weren’t eligible for an exemption until they arrived in Victoria.
Trade and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said Australian Border Force officials would now work with NSW police to strengthen the airport’s safeguards.
“There will be a closing of the net in response to this challenge,” he told the ABC, adding the travellers incident was a “firm reminder that this is a fraught and risky process.”
NSW hotel quarantine worker infection still under investigation
NSW reported zero cases of locally acquired COVID-19 overnight, but four new infections in returned overseas travellers.
NSW Health is also still investigating how a worker at a Sydney quarantine hotel contracted COVID-19.
“The strain of the virus appears to be of US origin and work is progressing in examining potential links to international aircrew who were self-isolating in the hotel at the time,” they said in a statement.
“Testing of close contacts of the case is continuing, and no further positive results have been identified.”
Meanwhile, Victoria has recorded its 38th straight day with no new known cases of coronavirus, and its 14th day with no active cases.
Melbourne received its first international flight of returning passengers since June on Monday morning, after Victoria’s hotel quarantine program was reopened.
