International travellers landing in Sydney airport have exposed glaring loopholes in the government’s drastic coronavirus travel restrictions, which force all arrivals to self-isolate for two weeks from midnight.
Arrivals streaming off flights from Dallas, Santiago and Singapore in the wake of the draconian measures descended on the domestic terminal, as usual, to catch connecting flights around the country.
Passengers feared they risked contaminating domestic passengers – if they were unlucky enough to be unknowingly carrying the bug.
Meanwhile, local passengers continued to catch taxis, Ubers and public transport home from the terminal, despite the isolation rules.
Liz Kirkness, a model on the American television show Bikini Destinations, said she was unable to see her two infant children in the Phillippines. She is pictured landing at Sydney Airport
Left: Cabin crew staff land after a flight in Sydney. They are not required to self isolate for 14 days. Right: A passenger lands
Arrived in Australia: Lorena Borges (far left) and her family arrive at Sydney Airport after a flight from Santiago, Chile
Precautions: A woman wears a mask as she lands in Sydney Airport after an international flight on Monday morning
Arrivals streaming off flights from Dallas, Santiago and Singapore in the wake of the draconian measures descended on the domestic terminal, as usual, to catch connecting flights around the country
Brett and Sue Whelan flew in from Santiago on Monday morning and said the quarantine measures were a ‘joke’.
Mr and Mrs Whelan learned about the restrictions just before boarding a flight in Santiago – and now have to catch a further domestic flight home to Cairns.
‘How many people on that flight could get it – if we had it?’ Mrs Whelan said. She joked ‘only one’ of them would survive two weeks in quarantine at home.
George Levi flew in from Dallas on Monday and, like all the passengers on his flight, only learned about the new regulations via captain’s announcement, as the plane descended into Sydney.
‘I still have to get back to Adelaide before I self-quarantine!’ he told Daily Mail Australia in the arrivals hall, as he headed off to catch his next plane.
Left: A passenger wears a mask after touching down in Sydney Airport on Monday morning: Right: Lorena Borges landed from Santiago
Passengers feared they risked contaminating domestic passengers – if they were unlucky enough to be unknowingly carrying the bug. Pictured: A couple happy to land back home in Australia
Reunited: A couple share a kiss and a hug as they are reunited at Sydney Airport where hundreds of travellers are still landing
Local passengers continued to catch taxis, Ubers and public transport home from the terminal, despite the isolation rules. Pictured: Passengers arrive at Sydney Airport
The official government advice handed to all travellers said all arrivals should continue their journeys, if they have connecting flights.
‘All travellers must isolate for a period of 14 days after they have entered Australia,’ it said. ‘If you need to transit domestically, you may complete this transit and then begin your precautionary 14 day isolation period.’
Foreign tourists have also been caught up in the confusion, claiming the restrictions weren’t explained to them very well at the border.
‘We have to stay two days (in the hotel?)’ asked Mina Bacconnier, who was travelling with her sister, Gail, and daughter Zelie, eight.
‘We are still not really sure … we don’t know right now’.
The family are due to fly to New Caledonia in two days and were left wondering if they will still be able to travel.
Official government advice handed to all travellers said all arrivals should continue their journeys, if they have connecting flights. Pictured: A family arrives in Sydney
A family poses for a photograph at Sydney Airport and will now face 14 days of self-isolation to help stop coronavirus spreading
‘All travellers must isolate for a period of 14 days after they have entered Australia,’ government advice said. Pictured: two travellers arriving in Sydney
Local passengers still lined up at cab ranks and the train terminal to get home – although staff at the cab rank said it was ‘a little quiet’ for this time of morning.
Others arranged for friends and family to pick them up.
Meanwhile, travel restrictions imposed by other countries are only adding to the chaos. Liz Kirkness, a model on the American television show Bikini Destinations, said she was unable to see her two infant children in the Phillippines.
Several flights have been cancelled and Manila is in lockdown. ‘They’re with their dad, but it’s not very nice.’
But she said there was a silver lining in the quarantine.
‘I thought this might be a nice holiday – forced to stay at home’.
Local passengers still lined up at cab ranks and the train terminal to get home – although staff at the cab rank said it was ‘a little quiet’ for this time of morning. Pictured: Passengers land at Sydney Airport