BENDIGO Airport has seen its final commercial passenger flights before Victoria's new travel restrictions take effect in response to a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney's Northern Beaches.
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Passengers arriving on this morning's QantasLink flight from Sydney to Bendigo underwent spot checks for the virus in the baggage arrivals area of the airport.
Less than an hour later, the Victorian Government announced new measures for travellers entering Victoria from New South Wales.
The changes come into effect from midnight.
There are no QantasLink services scheduled between Bendigo and Sydney at the weekend.
Department of Health and Human Services delegates were at the Bendigo Airport this morning to meet passengers from Sydney as they got off the plane.
Six members of the Bendigo Health and Loddon Mallee Regional Rapid Response Team then performed spot checks, as part of a statewide initiative.
Speaking ahead of the flight's arrival, Bendigo Health's David Rosaia said passengers would be asked whether they had been in the COVID-19 hot areas, whether they were showing any symptoms, and whether they would like to be tested.
"Then, of course, they'll be swabbed accordingly," Mr Rosaia said.
Any passengers who might have been in exposure zones since December 11 would be tested and asked to quarantine, according to the guidelines at the time.
Mr Rosaia had been expecting a further review of those guidelines during the day - an approach he welcomed.
"We've got to be mindful this virus spreads very quickly," he said.
"So, the quicker we act, the more restrictive we are, I think is a good thing."
Confirmed cases in the Northern Beaches cluster were at 17 on Thursday night.
News the cluster had grown to 28 cases broke about the same time as Bendigo Airport was at its most active.
"An outbreak in any part of Australia is a concern because it can just spread very, very quickly," Mr Rosaia said.
He urged people to remain vigilant.
"If you're showing any signs or symptoms, get tested and isolate," Mr Rosaia said.
"Continue to social distance, continue to wear your mask. I know they [restrictions] have eased a little bit, but it's OK to continue to wear a mask where appropriate and where you feel comfortable, and don't forget to wash your hands."
Mr Rosaia strongly advised anyone who had recently arrived in Bendigo from New South Wales and who was feeling uneasy or unsure to get tested.
Demand for COVID-19 testing centres in Bendigo was expected to rise in response to the NSW outbreak, based on responses to other interstate COVID-19 outbreaks.
Mr Rosaia said testing centres were averaging between 80 and 120 tests per day.
"So the public is doing the right thing, which is really important," he said.
QantasLink has not made any amendments to its schedule for the Bendigo - Sydney service, at this stage, but is understood to be monitoring the situation.
The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services advised anyone already in the state who was in the Northern Beaches region or other New South Wales exposure sites on or after December 11 to get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the COVID-19 exposure area.
The government later announced a permit system for all travellers entering Victoria from New South Wales.
Permits would not be issued to anyone trying to enter Victoria from the Northern Beaches and other New South Wales exposure sites.
Travellers from Greater Sydney would be encouraged to get tested once they arrived in Victoria and to self-quarantine until receiving a negative result.
Travellers from regional New South Wales would be advised to monitor for symptoms.
More than 30 people from Sydney arrived in Bendigo today.
Bendigo Airport manager Andrew McCulloch was pleased with passenger loads during that time, with numbers on the 50-seater planes in their mid 20s and 30s.
Today was the first time Bendigo Airport had been required to screen for COVID-19.
Mr McCulloch said the Bendigo Airport would continue to follow and adapt to advice.
"The aviation industry is really well equipped to deal with this response - we've been dealing with it now for more than six months," he said.
"It's another day, it's another challenge, but I'm really confident we'll deal with it in the right manner and get the right outcome."
He was hopeful the QantasLink service would be able to safely continue, particularly to connect people with their families during Christmas.
Bendigo resident Nikita Cox and her family were among the excited people waiting at the airport for today's flight from Sydney to touch down.
Ms Cox was reunited with her nanna for the first time in a year.
"She's come over from New Zealand, stayed in Sydney for the night and coming straight to Bendigo," she said.
The family plans to be together for the festive season.
Ms Cox said she wasn't too worried about the risk posed by the Northern Beaches outbreak.
"They're testing people getting here so it's very well controlled, I think," she said.
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Emma D'Agostino
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
Covering general news and Bendigo council.
