By Abbey Cannan
The first Jetstar flight from Melbourne landed on the Sunshine Coast on Monday as flights resumed at the Sunshine Coast Airport for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic locked down borders.
There was just one person on board the flight which could have seated up to 186 people.
A Jetstar spokesperson said the airline made an agreement with the Federal Government to run two flights a week between certain locations, including Melbourne and the Sunshine Coast, for essential travellers and freight.
Passengers arriving from interstate will need to complete border processing on arrival as well as isolate for 14 days.
Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said there was an obligation to monitor incoming passengers who may have been in COVID-19 hotspots.
“Today we’ve put in place systems to allow that monitoring and also the means to quarantine those that are coming from Victoria,” Sup Hawkins said.
“As people come off their flight, with the help of not only Health, but Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, we’ve been putting them through a series of checks which will give a border pass at different schedules.
“Ideally people coming from hotspots we’re encouraging them to return home, but those that elect to remain will be subject to a 14 day quarantine in a hotel at their own expense and we will be monitoring their behaviour during that time.”
From 12 noon 10 July 2020, any person from New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, may enter Queensland subject to completing and signing a border declaration.
If any person entering Queensland from whatever place has spent time in any local government area in Victoria during the past 14 days, they will be subject to mandatory hotel quarantine.
There was no exception to this rule, even for the AFL’s St Kilda Football Club, who have relocated their Melbourne team to Noosa as the COVID-19 outbreak spikes in their state.
The Club posted a photo on their Instagram, letting fans know that they “touched down in Queensland”.
The team is in lockdown for 14 days at the RACV Resort in Noosa.
All 45 players, plus coaches, football staff and family members, will be in Noosa for at least the next month as part of the AFL’s plan to keep Season 2020 alive.
