CANBERRA, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian politicians, including minister for defence, are forced into quarantine in Canberra, following a lockdown, introduced in Western Australia (WA)’s Perth, due to the detection of a positive COVID-19 case, in a hotel quarantine worker.
Politicians, who flew from WA to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) last night, ahead of parliament resuming tomorrow, were informed on arrival that they were required to immediately quarantine, until at least Friday and get tested for COVID-19.
It came after Mark McGowan, the premier of WA, announced that the Perth metropolitan area, Peel and South West regions, would enter a five-day lockdown from last night, based on “the best of health advice due to a fast-evolving situation in Western Australia, with the positive COVID-19 case detected in a hotel quarantine worker.”
Arrivals to Canberra from WA were told of the new conditions, by a broadcast over the plane’s speaker.
“ACT Health advises that all passengers go directly to their accommodation in a mask, review the WA government website and follow all directions from WA authorities,” passengers were told.
“ACT Health will be in contact directly with passengers, should additional advice be required.” The development has thrown the first parliamentary sitting days of 2021, into confusion.
Passengers on the flight, included Defence Minister, Linda Reynolds. “We will do everything that we are advised to do,” Reynolds told reporters in Canberra.
ACT Health, said that, the department was moving to ensure the safety of the community, by asking anybody who has been to the Perth metropolitan area, or the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia, since Jan 25, to self-quarantine and get tested for COVID-19.– NNN-AGENCIES
