Residents in a Melbourne apartment complex which was forced into a 14-day lockdown following a visit from a Covid-infected Sydney removalist are spending their days vegging out in their pyjamas, Facetiming loved ones and ordering UberEats.
Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong in Melbourne’s north-west was listed as a Tier 1 exposure site this week after the Victorian government learned an infected group of removalists were inside the building on July 8.
The residents have come to know what to expect after spending 112 days in 2020 following tough stage four restrictions while Victoria fought to get Covid under control.
Pictures taken on day three of the 14-day isolation period showed several residents soaking up the fresh air from their balconies.
Residents in a Melbourne apartment complex which was forced into a 14-day lockdown following a visit from a Covid-infected Sydney removalist are spending their days vegging out in their pyjamas and trackies, Facetiming loved ones and ordering UberEats
One father played with his baby daughter in the window while wearing fluffy pink pyjama pants with stars printed on them and a pink and blue dressing gown
Meanwhile on another floor, two young women have holed up together in their apartment and ordered food to be delivered to eat on the balcony
One Melbourne couple were seen feeding each other as they went on a coffee run. They were not subject to the apartment lockdown but are in Victoria’s lockdown
They lounged in their comfiest grey tracksuits and one father played with his baby daughter in the window while wearing fluffy pink pyjama pants with stars printed on them and a pink and blue dressing gown.
The little girl giggled as she shoved her fingers in the man’s mouth.
Meanwhile on another floor, two young women have holed up together in their apartment and ordered food to be delivered to eat on the balcony.
Both dressed casually as they stood and watched the happenings below, eating out of plastic takeaway containers and chatting between themselves as cameras and health experts below watched on.
Another woman Facetimed loved ones in a matching grey tracksuit and fluffy headband as she stood on her balcony.
The complex is listed as a Tier 1 exposure site, which means anyone at the apartments from 1pm to 11.59pm on that day must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
Another woman Facetimed loved ones in a matching grey tracksuit and fluffy headband as she stood on her balcony
Pictures taken on day three of the 14-day isolation period showed several residents soaking up the fresh air from their balconies
Two women chatted as they watched what was going on down below on day three of their enforced quarantine
Residents will spend at least 14 days in quarantine regardless of a negative test because of Covid-infected removalists from Sydney who were in the building
Resident Craig McLean recalled walking directly past the removalists in the building foyer the day in concern.
‘Obviously it’s very, very frustrating as clearly rules haven’t been followed,’ Mr McLean told Sunrise from his first floor balcony on the first day of lockdown.
From Thursday night, the rest of Victoria was plunged into a snap five-day lockdown to counteract the spread of Covid in the state. By Friday, the state had recorded a further six cases of the Delta variant of the virus.
In total, Victoria has recorded 24 cases linked to this outbreak.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said he understood the frustration among Victorians as they began their first day of a five-day long lockdown to curb the spread of the ‘Sydney incursion’.
‘I know and understand that this is not easy,’ he said. ‘No-one wants to be locked down.
Sikh volunteers brought food into the safe quarantine zone to be delivered to those who are stuck in quarantine
Parents supervise as their children play on the balcony – unable to take them to any parks or outdoors for a full 14 days
Pictures taken on day three of the 14-day isolation period showed several residents soaking up the fresh air from their balconies
‘But we had no choice and these additional cases overnight and particularly some of the context of these cases I think confirm for all Victorians that we had to make that tough call.’
Mr Andrews claimed it was better to suffer through a short lockdown than a prolonged one – in a subtle dig against NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian who has been forced to extend restrictions across Greater Sydney until at least the end of July.
‘We have done it before and we have done before with the Delta variants,’ he said. ‘We can do it again and we will do it again.’
In a welcome reprieve, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a newly-introduced $600 relief payment from the Federal Government for hard-hit Victorians.
Pictured: A woman eating her delivery order while watching from her balcony in the Ariele Apartment Complex
Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong in Melbourne’s north-west was listed as a Tier 1 exposure site this week after the Victorian government learned an infected group of removalists were inside the building on July 8
The highly infectious Indian Delta strain is feared to already be spreading throughout Melbourne after the Percy Beames bar at the MCG was flagged as a Covid exposure site, sending hundreds from all over Victoria into self-isolation.
There are already concerns Mr Andrews could opt to extend the statewide lockdown. But the decision makes little difference
Residents inside the Ariele Apartments cannot leave the buildings unless they getting Covid-19 test or in an emergency.
Anyone who visited been to the complex any time between July 9 and 12 must also get tested and isolate until they test negative.
The highly infectious Indian Delta strain is feared to already be spreading throughout Melbourne after the Percy Beames bar at the MCG was flagged as a Covid exposure site, sending hundreds from all over Victoria into self-isolation