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AAP
AAP
Health
Liz Hobday

Vic arrivals test negative to COVID-19

All six of the COVID-symptomatic travellers quarantined in Melbourne have tested negative for the virus.

The results come as Victoria notches up 40 days without a new COVID case.

The state recorded no new cases and no COVID-19 deaths in the previous 24 hours, with 11,578 test results received, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Wednesday.

But with up to 1120 international arrivals scheduled each week and the reopening of its hotel quarantine program, Victoria's clean sheet may be tested.

There are now 281 international arrivals quarantining in Melbourne hotels.

International flights into Melbourne re-started on Monday, five months after Victoria's quarantine hotel outbreaks sparked the state's deadly second virus wave.

Melbourne airport has eight international flights scheduled to land on Wednesday via Auckland, Hong Kong, Brunei, Singapore, Doha, Taipei and Abu Dhabi, with a total of 127 travellers to go into quarantine.

Anyone showing symptoms has been sent to the Novotel hotel at South Wharf, which has been designated for symptomatic travellers, and arrivals who have complex medical problems.

The six travellers who have been showing symptoms of COVID will have their symptoms monitored.

Meanwhile, the state government says it is not aware of any more international arrivals skipping quarantine before arriving in Melbourne.

Two German travellers who arrived in Sydney on the weekend were allowed to board a flight to Melbourne without quarantining in NSW, while it was also revealed another traveller from the US was able to skip quarantine in July.

Health Minister Martin Foley says he is confident NSW authorities now have better systems in place, while the Victorian system has been completely overhauled.

"We have over recent weeks and months, completely rebooted the system, it's working as we would expect," he said.

As the states deal with more international arrivals, Australia has extended a national ban on cruise ships for another three months.

The ban was due to be lifted next week.

Limitations on outbound international air travel will also be extended.

The Victorian government has also rejected calls to waive an estimated $3 million in COVID-19 fines handed to thousands of teenagers, despite many coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The COVID-19 Fines Community Lawyer Working Group, a coalition of 10 community legal centres, estimates at least 2000 children aged 14 to 17 have been fined in Victoria for coronavirus breaches during the pandemic.

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