“We are at tipping point”: Lockdown updates for Darwin, Melbourne and the ACT, as states scramble to stop Delta variant
Darwin has entered a snap three-day lockdown, as Melbourne and the ACT extend their current lockdowns by two more weeks in a mad dash to contain the highly contagious Delta variant.
The Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, said lockdown restrictions would be in place for Greater Darwin and the Katherine region after a returned overseas traveller was active in the community while infectious.
Gunner said the positive case was a man in his 30 who had recently travelled internationally and completed a 14-day hotel quarantine in Sydney, ABC News reported.
The man had travelled to the NT for work purposes on 12 August after returning a negative test on 10 August. He had transitted through Canberra on his way from Sydney while the ACT was a declared hotspot.
Gunner said the man, who was asymptomatic, visited “various locations” across Darwin’s CBD and Katherine while infectious.
“We do not yet know the variant of this virus; we are assuming it is the Delta strain,” Gunner said.
“Critically, we do not yet know the source of his infection, we do not know if he caught it in hotel quarantine, during his time at the Canberra airport or at any other time during his transit.
“When we don’t know everything, we have to start by assuming the worst. We have to.”
Melbourne and the ACT have both extended their current lockdown restrictions for an extra two weeks after recording 19 and 22 new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 today respectively.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said the region would still be in lockdown until at least 2 September due to the high number of mystery cases.
“We are at a tipping point,” Andrews said.
“There is simply no option today, but to further strengthen this lockdown and to, on the advice of the Chief Health Officer, extend it for a further two weeks.
He said the lockdown restrictions would also be strengthened from tonight, including a new 9pm curfew.
Canberra began its seven-day stint in lockdown on 13 August and was scheduled to lift the tough restrictions on Thursday.
Now, the territory will be in lockdown until 2 September.
“The numbers indicate the virus is active in the community,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said, according to ABC News.
“This is a serious situation. We do not want to see the numbers continue to grow and we do not want to see exponential growth that we have seen in other jurisdictions.
“Lockdowns are a proven measure to suppress chains of transmission of the virus.”
Meanwhile, NSW travellers must now present proof of vaccination before entering Western Australia under a list of strict new measures announced over the weekend.
The new requirement makes WA the first state or territory to require proof of vaccination for travellers.
From midnight tonight, NSW will be classified as ‘high risk’ and anyone who has travelled through the state in the past 14 days must provide a negative PCR rest 72 hours before departure, use Western Australia’s G2G Now app upon arrival, test for COVID-19 on days two and 12 and provide proof they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Today, NSW recorded 478 new cases and seven deaths.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison signalled his support for the vaccination requirement and said it was consistent with the nation’s goal to reach an 80 per cent vaccination rate and leave lockdowns in the past.
“When there are no lockdowns there should be no borders,” he said on Friday during a press conference in Canberra.
“We’re not running a mandatory vaccination program.
“In specific cases, we may seek to do that for public health reasons. But otherwise, that’s just not how we do things in Australia.”
Featured image source: ABC News
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
act Mark McGowan new south wales proof of vaccine Roger Cook scott morrison south australia Western AustraliaLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.