Dozens of flights to and from Melbourne today have been cancelled following a rise in COVID-19 case numbers.
Qantas and Virgin have cancelled flights into and out of Melbourne today after 11 new cases were announced today, bringing the total number of cases associated with the cluster in the city's north to 26.
An announcement regarding potential lockdown measures is set to be made today, with Victorian officials holding crisis talks about the growing coronavirus outbreak.
LIVE UPDATES: Melbourne cluster grows with 11 new cases
"Due to an evolving situation in Greater Melbourne, Virgin Australia will cancel more than 10 services in and out of Melbourne today," the airline said in a statement.
"While most services in and out of Melbourne today are operating as normal, we are adjusting our forward schedule to better reflect changing travel demand and booking trends.
"Customers impacted by any changed to their flight will be contacted today."
Customers have been warned of extended wait times for assistance but have been assured they will be able to access free booking changes.
READ MORE: Melbourne on the edge of a lockdown as cases rise
Some residents from Melbourne have decided to take the risk to leave Melbourne despite the cancellations and an impending lockdown announcement.
"I was supposed to have a friend come down from Sydney to visit me but given the situation I decided to come up here instead," Flynn Gilder-Smith told 9News after arriving in Sydney from Melbourne this morning.
"I've been mostly home this last week so I don't feel there's much risk personally but it feels like a bit of an ethical dilemma even though we can still fly.
"I'm definitely anticipating a lockdown in the next few days ... I'm only planning to be here for a day so hopefully I can get back before lockdown for work."
Meanwhile, authorities in NSW have advised people to delay any non-essential travel to Greater Melbourne or Bendigo while some other states and territories have shut their borders to interstate arrivals.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said borders will remain open "at this stage" however authorities would continue to monitor case numbers over the coming days.
"Can I please urge anybody who is intending to get in their car and try and beat the lockdown, please think about your fellow citizens, please be safe, please know your actions can really harm so many others," Ms Berejiklian told Today.
"I do appeal to the goodwill of people because during the pandemic you can put all the rules in place, but you rely on people to do the right thing."
Sydney resident Colin Atapuai was travelling to Melbourne for a friend's 30th birthday, telling 9News he wasn't fazed by the warnings.
"I've already got a mum, so sorry Gladys, I listen to my mum not you," Mr Atapuai said.
from 9News https://ift.tt/3vsLuEt
via IFTTT
0 Comments