The Continent of Austalia is opening up for tourism as the country sets out measures to return tourism to Victoria’s rural regions which were once destroyed by bushfires and then the coronavirus as country’s second-most crowded state revealed lower levels of community transmission.
Travelers will be able to stay overnight from June 1 in regional areas in the southern state of Victoria, where “tourism is such an important part, especially for bushfire-affected communities”, said state Premier Daniel Andrews.
Victoria will open up ski fields from June 22, with strict rules around hygiene, density and without shared amenities.
“This is all about opening up again, but doing so because we have got some new test results, and we can be confident about how much virus is out there in the Victorian community.”
– State Premier Daniel Andrews.
Victoria, which recorded one case overnight after nine new cases yesterday, has administered more than 420,000 tests since the start of the year, and 174,000 this month, more than a week ahead of timelines set by health officials.
Health minister, Jenny Mikakos, announced that community transmission continued to be low and that an expanded testing program would extend into year-end. Victoria has announced 1,593 cases in total, of which 180 are community transmissions.
In the most populous state of New South Wales, only one case was recorded overnight, bringing the total to 3,085. Australia has reported 7,095 cases and 102 deaths.
In Victoria and New South Wales, where schools are set to reopen next week, playgrounds and skate parks will also be able to reopen from Tuesday, Premier Andrews added.
In Queensland, Australia’s third-most populous state, one new case was recorded overnight. Officials announced a $50 million investment into community sports from June 12.
