COVID-19: Victoria records 10 new cases in last 24 hours – new restrictions

With more than 40 exposure sites including regional Victoria and even the Melbourne Cricket Ground, there is a real risk of a new and serious outbreak centered on Victoria. The good thing at the moment is that all known cases have been traced and linked.

However, it has affected restrictions in Victoria and travel protocols for other states.

Restrictions in Victoria

Current restrictions for Melbournians are: you have to wear masks anywhere indoors and on public transport and gatherings in homes are restricted to a maximum of 5/day and pubic gatherings to 30.

Other State restrictions

Here are links to each state’s websites. Check the links for the most up-to-date information. The summary beside the state name was current at the time of writing. Makes you wish we had some uniform rules, or even language across this wide brown land!

• Australian Capital Territory – If you have been in Greater Melbourne in the last 14 days you must complete a declaration form, and you may need to self-isolate for 14 days
• New South Wales – if you have been in Greater Melbourne since 12 May – you need to complete a declaration form. You may need to self-isolate for 14 days. If you have been to high risk site – you are not allowed to enter NSW [update]
• Northern Territory – If you have been in a Tier 1 site in Victoria – head straight to 14 day quarantine
• Queensland – Restrictions may apply if you intend to visit or are already in Queensland but visited the Melbourne region from 18 May
• South Australia – will depend where you have been in Victoria, but you may be prevented from travelling to SA or subject to 14 days self isolation, testing and mask wearing
• Tasmania – if you visited any ‘high-risk’ places in Victoria from 6 May – you may be denied entry
• Western Australia – if you arrived after 15 May, you will be contacted by WA police, and if you arrive from 25 May, then testing and self-isolation until a negative result. If you were at an exposure site in Victoria, then its 14 day quarantine and testing for you!

2PAXfly Takeout

This is another timely reminder to wear your seatbelt when seated. Holding you close to your seat will protect you from the sort of injuries sustained on this flight, when unsecured passengers flew to the ceiling of the aircraft, and then came crashing down once the ‘drop’ ceased.

The hope will be that this is an anomaly – a ‘freak accident’ in casual parlance. If it is a systemic error either mechanical or electronic, then this is a larger concern for the airlines that fly Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft. Let’s hope it isn’t. If it is, it will pile on the woes to Boeing’s existing stack.