Victoria's hotel quarantine program has restarted, with Melbourne Airport welcoming its first international flights in more than five months.
SriLankan Airlines flight UL604 from Colombo landed just before 8am on Monday, the first of eight international passenger flights carrying 253 travellers due to touch down today.
Victoria has not accepted international flights since early July, when it was revealed a number of hotel quarantine workers had contracted COVID-19 from guests.
The outbreaks went on to spark the state's second wave, which resulted in more than 18,000 infections and 800 deaths.
The state has since recorded 38 consecutive days without a new COVID-19 case.
Victoria Police will take the lead in enforcing the new-look hotel quarantine program, with support from Australian Defence Force personnel.
Eleven airport and CBD hotels will participate, including the Stamford Hotel, one of two hotels where outbreaks occurred in June.
Hotel guests will have to pay about $3500 for their 14-day stay, while fresh-air and exercise breaks will be banned to prevent movement inside hotels.
It comes after and boarded Virgin flight VA838, which landed in Melbourne at 1.25pm on Saturday.
Almost 200 passengers and crew, as well as a handful of airport staff, are now self-isolating.
Neither of the pair - a 53-year-old woman and 15-year-old boy - have shown symptoms and have since tested negative to COVID-19, Victoria's Health Minister Martin Foley said.
The duo, who are currently in hotel quarantine, will be retested again on Monday.
Mr Foley said they had residential rights in Australia.
"They're not tourists, they've got a legal right to be here. But the system broke down in Sydney Airport and we want to make sure that never happens again," he told ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday.
NSW Police has accepted responsibility for the bungle.
Masks must still be carried at all times and worn on public transport, in ride-share vehicles, at indoor shopping centres and crowded places.
Premier Daniel Andrews says people should use their discretion about wearing masks in instances where adequate social distancing cannot be achieved.
"Masks have been a great insurance policy and remain as such," Mr Andrews said on Sunday.
Melbourne households are now able to receive 30 visitors a day - up from 15 - from an unlimited number of other homes, under changes that came into effect overnight.
Outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people are permitted in public places.
Caps have been removed for weddings, funerals and religious events, with attendance instead subject to one person per two square metres.
Patron limits at pubs, cafes and restaurants have also been scrapped, but venues must observe the rule of one person per two square metres. Customers will no longer have to be seated for service.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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