BRISBANE, Australia (AP) – Australia is nearly halving the number of passengers allowed to arrive by plane in an attempt to prevent the spread of a highly contagious coronavirus variant first identified in Britain.
A cleaner at a quarantine hotel in Brisbane diagnosed with COVID-19 on Wednesday is the first person infected with the variant found in the Australian community. Other cases were detected among travelers during the hotel’s quarantine, where there is little risk of spreading through the community.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said state leaders agreed that international arrivals at state airports in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia would be cut in half by February 15. Arrivals to Victoria were already relatively low and would remain unchanged.
Quarantine workers would be tested for the virus daily.
Authorities in Brisbane are closing Australia’s third most populous city for three days from Friday night to contain the spread.
Australian health director Paul Kelly said that anyone who has been to Brisbane since Jan. 2 should also isolate himself.
“Our main problem is keeping Australians safe and really making sure that this particular strain is not the one that is circulating in Australia,” said Kelly. “The reason is because it will be much more difficult to control.”
Masks will also become mandatory for the first time in Brisbane and some neighboring counties, said the Queensland state government.
State health director Jeannette Young noted that the more contagious nature of the variant made the outbreak in the UK more difficult to control. “So, we need to act very, very quickly. We need to find each case now, ”added Young.
The woman’s diagnosis ends almost four months without infections acquired locally in Queensland.
In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:
– The state of emergency came into effect on Friday in and around Tokyo, as coronavirus cases are on the rise. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga released the statement on Thursday. It runs until February 7, and asks that restaurants and bars close at 8 pm and that people stay at home and not mix with the crowd. The declaration does not entail penalties. But it works as a strong demand while Japan juggles to keep its economy running. Shopping centers and schools will remain open. Cinemas, museums and other events are expected to reduce attendance. Places that challenge the request will be published on a list, while those that comply will be eligible for help, according to authorities. Suga also promised more help for hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19. The Japanese military is ready to help and efforts are underway to approve and distribute a vaccine, he added.