Qantas Airways Limited (ASX:QAN) and Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) are among the companies whose share price has seemingly been impacted by Victoria's spike in COVID-19 cases.
Shares in Qantas have fallen 0.42% today, after more restrictions on Victorian's ability to travel were implemented. The Qantas share price is currently $4.69.
Webjet shares are also down, trading for $4.95. That's 0.5% lower than their closing price yesterday.
The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price has fallen 1.33%. Currently, shares in the company are swapping hands for $14.89.
The Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX: AIA) share price has also fallen 2.2% to trade for $6.66. This fall comes as New Zealand pauses the quarantine-free travel bubble between it and Victoria.
Let's take a closer look at the spike in COVID-19 cases facing Victoria.
Victoria's latest outbreak
Since yesterday, Victoria has recorded 15 COVID-19 cases, all linked to a positive case in Whittlesea.
The new cases have been genetically linked to the Wollert case. The Wollert case occurred earlier this month, when a man who spent two weeks in hotel quarantine in South Australia tested positive for COVID-19 in Victoria.
Contract tracers are still looking for the missing link between the Wollert case and the Whittlesea man.
A travel ban is now in place. This new ban disallows most Victorians who have been in Whittlesea to travel to Queensland, South Australia, or Tasmania. Anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hot spot must get tested. Additionally, they must self-isolate for 14 days upon arriving in New South Wales, the ACT, Western Australia, or the Northern Territory.
Today, acting Premier James Merlino told a press conference the next 24 hours will be critical for the state.
Of whether further restrictions will be imposed on the state, Merlino said:
I cannot rule out taking some further action but we'll update people as soon as we know.
Merlino said 301 people have been identified as close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases. Of those, only 80 COVID-19 tests results have been returned at this point in time.
