Qld grants exemption for son of dying dad
A son trapped in hotel quarantine in Sydney has been cleared to travel to Queensland to see his dying father after the state government granted him an exemption.
The quarantine exemption issued on Wednesday evening to Mark Kilian and his partner Anneli Gericke was conditional on "NSW finalising arrangement of safe transfer of the couple to Queensland".
It's unclear what exact arrangements have been made but the couple hopes to fly to Queensland around noon on Thursday, Nine Network reported.
Father Frans Kilian, 80, is in hospital on the Gold Coast suffering from pancreatic cancer.
Mark and Anneli have been in Sydney completing quarantine after rushing to Australia from Los Angeles more than a week ago.
Both are vaccinated and have returned at least three negative coronavirus tests.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Wednesday her state had done everything it could to allow the reunion.
"At least a week ago ... New South Wales made it clear there was no impediment for them to make that journey."
Before the exemption was granted, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had pledged authorities would work to facilitate a reunion as quickly as possible.
Again, this was conditional on NSW guaranteeing safe transport between states.
The decision on the quarantine exemption for the couple came after Frans pleaded with Queensland Health to show compassion.
"Every day that they are in that hotel is a day less that I have with my son and daughter-in-law in my last days," he said in a video appeal from his hospital bed.
"I'm asking you, begging you actually, to let my son and his wife leave their quarantine to come here to be with me. It is my dying wish. Please."
Meanwhile, Queensland has closed its borders to Greater Sydney and the surrounding regions of the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour in response to Sydney's growing COVID-19 outbreak.
"The Delta variant is much more contagious than other variants and we do not want it circulating in Queensland," Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said in a statement on Wednesday evening.
Queenslanders are also being told not to travel to Greater Sydney and surrounding areas in NSW as they count down to the school holidays.
The Sunshine State reported one new virus case in quarantine on Wednesday, as confirmation came there had been more instances of transmission within one of its quarantine hotels.
Two people staying on floor five of Brisbane Airport's Novotel were infected by a positive case in an adjacent room, Dr Young said.
The cases were previously thought to be overseas acquired. Others staying on the same floor have had their quarantine stay extended as a result.
