COVID-19: Returning Traveller Hotel Capacity limits return to pre-Christmas levels

As advised after a national cabinet meeting on 5 February, from today (15 February) returning traveller hotel quarantine capacity limits return to the levels agreed before the Northern Beaches and other state outbreaks.

Here is a table of the capacity limits comparing 15 January to 15 February:

State	15 January	Now	15 February
NSW	3,010	1,505	3,010
VIC	1,120	1,120	1,310
Qld	1,000	500	1,000
SA	490	490	530
WA	1,025	512	512
Total	3,635	2,622	3,352

Arrivals capacity limits by State for January to February 2021

Exception

I think Victoria has suspended all incoming international flights, and therefore returning travellers as part of the current three day lockdown that ends on Wednesday 17 February.

The table of arriving flights at Melbourne Airport above tends to indicate that most flights have, or will be cancelled.

2PAXfly Takeout

I love digital, except when my phone dies, which happened to me on the last night of my recent visit to New Zealand

There are rumours that Howard Springs, the facility outside of Darwin is currently gearing up with a AU$200 million overhaul to double its capacity from about 1,200 to closer to 3,000 places for returned travellers in quarantine.

This will be a boon to returning Australians who have been until now unable to return home. It should also satisfy other Australians, who are increasingly unsympathetic to those who did not head the call back in March 2020 to return home.

That view is unfair for many who have travelled for compassionate reasons, and are stuck overseas. Flying to support a sick relative, or to attend a funeral should be viewed with compassion, as should those people’s need to return to Australia.