Intruder arrested at CBD quarantine hotel

It comes as a homeless intruder was arrested after sneaking into a Melbourne quarantine hotel.Police said they were called to the Collins St hotel after a motion alarm went off about 2.45am on Friday. The alarm activated when a door from the fire escape stairwell was opened at level seven. The offender, aged 29, fled the hotel and was arrested nearby a short time later. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “The man did not enter any red zones, did not gain entry to guest or staff rooms, and was not located with any stolen property,” she said. He is assisting police with their investigation. The security breach is likely to have embarrassed the force as Victoria’s hotel quarantine program is under international spotlight due to the Australian Open. Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said it appeared the homeless man snuck in via a roller door as cleaners emptied the bins. Asked why police believe he entered the hotel, Mr Cornelius said he was a “homeless person looking for an opportunity to improve himself” and will now receive the “benefit of 14 days (quarantine) accommodation” due to the COVID-19 exposure risk. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. SCHOOL MASK RULES CAUSE CONFUSIONStudents returning to school this week have been told to carry a mask at all times, but they will only be “recommended” when in class.Education Minister James Merlino on Thursday confirmed the controversial coverings would not be “mandatory in schools, but it’s recommended if you can’t maintain social distancing”.The advice applies to students 12 and older in primary and secondary school when doing onsite learning and unable to socially distance.
Students under 12 do not need to wear a mask.It comes as Victoria recorded zero new cases of coronavirus in the community for the 23rd day in a row. However, one new infection was discovered from a returned traveller in the state’s hotel quarantine system.Victoria now has 27 active COVID-19 cases — all of which were acquired overseas. Mr Merlino said schools would operate in “a commonsense manner” and make judgment on where mask-wearing was appropriate.In a message to parents seen by the Herald Sun, one inner Melbourne school warned masks would be necessary for some students while learning.“Face masks are expected when 1.5m physical distancing cannot be maintained,” it reads. But Sue Bell, president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, said the decision would be at the discretion of individual schools and teachers.

“Different schools will have different layouts — those that are in more traditional buildings are asking students to wear masks indoors,” she said.“Those that are more open-plan or have big doors that can open, they’re making masks optional. But if students walk into a school canteen that is indoors … they have to have their masks and put them on.”Ms Bell said teachers were leading by example and wearing masks when needed, but are not required to don them while teaching.Jim Miles, executive director of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, said masks “are to be worn by individuals over the age of 12 when on public transport and school buses” as per government guidelines. He added: “(They are) recommended for use by staff and students when physical distancing of 1.5m cannot be maintained.”

Gail McHardy, head of Parents Victoria, said communication between the government, schools and parents on masks had been clear.She said the requirements were “no different to what’s out in the wider community”. Victoria is the only state or territory to require school students to carry a mask, according to respective government websites. In NSW on Friday, masks will become recommended in retail settings such as supermarkets and shopping centres, but remain compulsory for public transport, hospitality workers, places of worship, gaming rooms and beauty salons.
The Splash
Victoria owes about $50 million to NSW for the cost of quarantining international arrivals.The program has been costing NSW almost $50 million every month with other states to cough up their $125.5 million share of the overall bill for the COVID protection plan.Victoria represents about 40 per cent of the interstate cost, followed by Queensland who owe about $38 million. Another 30 per cent is split among the other states and territories.Victoria’s bill was impacted by the lockdown when we weren’t taking any international travellers.
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BORDER TOURISM ECONOMIES FEEL PAIN OF SHUTDOWNSBorder closures have savaged the tourism economies of Murray communities as many holiday-makers stayed away this summer, especially after the snap New Year shutdowns. A survey of tourism operators found cancellations, permit confusion, reduced bookings and last-minute postponements wreaked financial havoc on many small businesses. Tourism businesses are now also missing out on JobKeeper because a brief revival in December meant many were no longer eligible despite the border closures.Murray Regional Tourism Board chief executive Mark Francis said doubts over border access and permits meant many tourists stayed away. “There’s been lots of damage to confidence to whether people can actually travel,’’ he said.

The industry is also appealing for an extension of the JobKeeper scheme. Three out of four tourism businesses previously qualified — but following the brief revival of trade, many no longer meet the 30 per cent downturn criteria.It echoes a call by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to extend the JobKeeper payment amid fears that thousands of businesses, many in the tourism sector, were at risk of collapse.Ms Palaszczuk urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to urgently reconsider scrapping the $1000 payment in March.

More than 70 per cent of 400 Murray tourism businesses surveyed said they had endured a slump in turnover since the New Year closures. The region normally attracts 6.5 million visitors every year, spending about $2bn.Deb O’Callaghan, manager of DC On The Lake holiday park on the NSW side of Lake Mulwala said her business, which relied on Victorian visitors, had been empty for most of this month. “We went from a full park with 500 people at 4pm on New Year’s Eve and then the premier announced the border closure and by 8pm we were empty,’’ she said.