Roodekrans couple share their Australian holiday experience
Couple arrived home and immediately began to self-isolate
With Covid-19 being reported in most countries across the globe, each nation is taking their own steps to battle the virus. These steps mirror the needs of that specific nation as well as their attitudes towards the pandemic.
Roodekrans residents, André and Anette Westerveld arrived back from a three-week holiday in Australia and report a relative level of calm there. “We spent our last day, 18 March in Sydney, where we noticed quite a few passenger ships in and around the Sydney harbour, with some passengers disembarking and mingling with us,” recounted André. Tighter travel restrictions have been instituted down under, but they could find themselves in the same boat as many countries that underestimated the virus.
The Westervelds had been in Australia since 27 February, almost a month after the first case of coronavirus was reported in the Australian state of Victoria. They visited tourist attractions across Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast among hoards of travellers from across the globe. “We never experienced any precautionary hygienic measures being imposed, and only noticed a few people wearing masks,” said André of their many interactions at the nation’s top tourist attractions.
The couple were in the country as part of their 39th wedding anniversary celebrations and the crown jewel was to be the subsequently cancelled Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. “The Grand Prix tickets were at least refunded, but no flights or accommodation refunds were offered,” André lamented. In that Grand Prix weekend in mid March they still used trains, trams, buses and even took an open-top bus tour throughout the city.
With the coronavirus in the back of their minds, André and Anette stocked up on hand sanitizer, wet wipes and masks before they left. Since their return they have been in self-isolation and claim neither to have shown any symptoms nor have they been tested. Upon arriving home at OR Tambo International, they were required to complete a form listing flight number, seating, home address and contact numbers, but were not given any special instructions.
Scrutiny over screening at South Africa’s international airports may also be analysed when looking back on this unprecedented event. “We stood in a long queue without any precautions or distancing. In the queue, we chatted to South Africans that had flown in from Ireland via Dubai, and they did not even have to fill in a form, which I found curious,” claimed André.
International travel and tourism are the life blood of communities across the world and the joys of exploring the treasures of the planet can be life-changing for some. As we retreat into our homes we now look forward to simply walking through our beautiful parks, let alone the beaches of the Mediterranean or the metropolises of North America.
