Washington Police have praised the quick response of Victorian tourists whose vacations have been disrupted by mandatory COVID-19 testing and isolation.
Important points:
- Thousands of Victorian travelers have disrupted their vacation with mandatory testing and isolation
- Almost all of the 900 Victorians in the Kimberley have been tested and given negative results, but some boat passengers have yet to come ashore
- The region’s top police officer says he’s more nervous than ever due to the complacency of COVID and the busy tourist season
Last week’s Melbourne outbreak resulted in around 900 Victorian tourists in the far north of the state being ordered to immediately isolate and present for a COVID-19 test.
District Police Superintendent Greg Crofts said he was impressed with the response.
“Almost all of these people presented themselves for testing, and we didn’t have to hunt anyone, which was great,” he said.
“Especially in the Kimberley region, where you don’t always have phone reception and where some have had to travel a long distance to get to a COVID test clinic.
“The only ones we are waiting for are people on seven ships offshore who will make their way into port as soon as they can safely do so.”
It is believed that wild weather off the far north coast of the state prevented boat passengers from reaching the coast.
Victorian tourists line up for a COVID-19 test in Broome in the hours after the lockdown was announced in May. (
ABC Kimberley
)
Last Thursday’s announcement sparked numerous activities in regional centers where flights arrived directly from Melbourne.
Police officers have been tasked with setting up airport checkpoints to screen new arrivals.
Additional police resources have been sent to the hardest hit regional centers, such as the Kimberley, which fills with sun-hungry Victorian tourists during the winter months.
Authorities say the post-outbreak response has calmed down since the weekend, as flights from Melbourne were canceled and negative test results were filtered.
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Patrols remote streets
Superintendent Crofts denied rumors that some Victorian travelers were trying to sneak into WA via remote roads like Duncan Road, which connects Alice Springs and Halls Creek.
“We patrol these streets and have cameras installed,” he told ABC Kimberley.
“I’m not naive enough to believe there is no way to get in, but we have no evidence of that.
Police have installed cameras and are conducting regular patrols on remote roads to prevent people from sneaking into WA during the COVID-19 border closings. (
ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne
)
“The [Emergency COVID] Directions are pretty clear – the only way to get to WA is via Victoria Highway or Nullarbor at Eucla. So if you come any other way, you are committing a crime and you could be prosecuted or at least turned over and sent back. “
In the remote Kimberley area, there have been some false positives that sparked fear in local Aboriginal communities that have so far avoided transmitting COVID-19.
Read our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic
The only rest house on popular Gibb River Road suddenly closed on Friday when news of a group of recently arrived Victorians spread to the adjacent campsite.
The Mt Barnett Roadhouse posted this news on Facebook the following day:
“At the request of all travelers, the majority did so without complaint and fully understood our situation.
“Of course there were some travelers who made a fuss and made it extremely difficult for our staff in a situation that was already difficult enough.
“I want to remind everyone that at an event like this, you go to an Aboriginal community shop and camping area and …
“If there is an outbreak or a potential outbreak, all visitors are asked to leave to protect our community, school and nurses.”
The proactive approach of the isolated communities has been praised by health officials, especially as some sacrifice income from art centers and fuel users to keep the virus out.
‘I am nervous’
Kimberley Police Commissioner Greg Crofts (
ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne
)
There is concern that there is complacency with COVID-19 in regions like the Kimberley, which has not recorded a Covid-19 case in more than a year.
Read more about COVID-19 vaccines:
Superintendent Crofts – chairman of the area’s emergency management committee – said the combination of complacency and mass tourist visits made him and many others nervous.
“I beg people to be very attentive. Personally, I feel like we are in an elevated state now than we were 12 months ago when everyone was locked up,” he said.
“I’m nervous that people are complacent and that there is a risk involved.
“So it’s a timely reminder to get vaccinated, keep social distance, and keep washing those hands.”
