Melbourne is clearly not fucking around as it tries to get the current COVID-19 outbreak under control, with reports that two travellers were fined $19,000 each for allegedly “fleeing” the airport, in an apparent bid to avoid hotel quarantine.
Health Minister Martin Foley told reporters today that the pair, a 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, arrived in Melbourne from Canberra on Friday morning, and were told by officers that they would be required to complete 14 days of hotel quarantine.
Per 7 News reports, the pair allegedly fled into a vehicle outside, but were located by authorities soon after. They have both since returned to their home of Goulburn in NSW.
Addressing the media today, Foley said:
“Upon the advice of the public health team, those people have breached numerous orders of the public-health state of emergency in Victoria and they will each be fined at least $19,000 for their breaching of those arrangements. This is a very serious matter.”
He continued:
“We have established the link between New South Wales’ cluster and the outbreak in Victoria. We are determined to get on top of it and I know that requires what appears to some people to be tough measures but the virus does not respect state borders.”
Melbourne is currently attempting to contain a new outbreak of COVID-19, with ten new locally-acquired cases reported in Victoria yesterday.
Yesterday there were 10 new local cases reported, 2 cases internationally acquired and in hotel quarantine. Thanks to all who were tested, 18,337 results were received. #EveryTestHelps #StaySafeStayOpen More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/m9A6q7E2ki
— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) January 1, 2021
