Almost 7000 people are waiting on their application for travel into Victoria from “red” and “extreme” zones to be considered, with health authorities processing around 1000 exemption applications a day.
Victorian Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson said due to the volume of applications from those in NSW and Queensland, they would be prioritising “emergency” applications.
Victorian Department of Health secretary Kate Matson says priority will be given to emergency applications. Credit:Chris Hopkins
Each application has to be independently considered by the department’s public health team.
“I do want to note that approving those exemptions is rare,” she said at today’s coronavirus briefing.
“Most people who apply will not be successful in getting that exemption. For those who do, it tends to be some really compelling compassionate or emergency grounds, such as end of life reasons, to attend funerals and so on.
“We really do understand for people in those difficult circumstances it can be really stressful, waiting for the exemption results, and I reassure you that we are working through those as quickly as we can.”
There are now just 56 exposure sites listed in Victoria, down from the more than 300 exposure sites listed at the height of the Victoria outbreak.
Of the two new local cases announced in Victoria today, one was a household contact of a person who went to AAMI for the Wallabies rugby game, and the other positive case is a household contact of the COVID-positive Moonee Valley traffic controller.
Eight Victorians remain in hospital with COVID-19, with three people in intensive care.