Queensland and Victoria have introduced tough new restrictions for Sydneysiders less than a week before Christmas.
Anyone who has visited the Greater Sydney region and is planning to cross the border for the holiday break will now have to apply for a permit, get tested on arrival and self isolate until they are given the all-clear.
The strict new measures come after the Northern Beaches outbreak climbed by 23 cases on Saturday, including 10 from yesterday.
Testing revealed 21 of those are directly linked to the Avalon cluster, while two still remain under investigation. Infections linked to the worrying outbreak have now reached 41.
Every state and territory in Australia has enforced mandatory quarantine on travellers from the Northern Beaches hotspots as hundreds of thousands of residents from the Spit Bridge to Palm Beach have been ordered to stay at home from 5pm Saturday until midnight on Wednesday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Health are expected to announce the Northern Beaches cluster which now stands at 41, has not only increased but spread to other areas
QUEENSLAND:
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the message is ‘very clear’.
‘If you are from the Northern Beaches. Your best to stay at home reconsider your plans,’ she said.
Anyone hoping to make it north from other parts of NSW, will now require a declaration pass from 1am Sunday.
‘You will be able to go online and apply for that declaration from 8pm this evening,’ Ms D’Ath said.
Travellers from the Central Coast of New South Wales or the Greater Sydney area will now need to get tested on arrival and stay in quarantine until the all clear is given.
‘This is about making sure we keep all Queenslanders safe while people travel around all the Christmas holidays.’
Cutting short her beach holiday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) stressed on Friday that Queensland’s borders would remain open to other travellers
Pictured: People are seen lining up at a pop-up COVID-19 testing facility Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches, Saturday, December 19, 2020
Picutred: Cars drive past a Covid-19 alert sign on Mona Vale road at Belrose on Sydney’s northern beaches, Saturday, December 19, 2020
VICTORIA:
Victoria has introduced a similar permit scheme.
After more than four months of lockdown, the Victorian Government is desperately trying to avoid a third wave of infections in the state.
Health Minister Martin Foley said anyone travelling from the Northern Beaches ‘red zone’ will have to undergo mandatory quarantine.
But visitors from greater Sydney region – the ‘orange zone’ – are still permitted to travel but must apply for a permit.
‘Anyone travelling from the greater Sydney region is encouraged to get tested on arrival and self-quarantine until they receive that negative test result,’ Mr Foley said.
‘My message to everyone in Victoria is don’t go to Sydney.’
So far 52,000 permits have been issued since midnight.
Those travelling from regional New South Wales – the green zone – are permitted to enter Victoria with no restrictions.
After more than four months of lockdown, the Victorian Government is desperately trying to avoid a third wave of infections in the state. Pictured: Premier Daniel Andrews
Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have all banned anyone who visited the Northern Beaches (pictured) from December 11 from entering their state or territory
Pictured: A Covid-19 digital sign is seen while a person walks a dog on Manly beachfront on December 19, 2020 in Sydney
SOUTH AUSTRALIA:
South Australia confirmed on Saturday its border will remain open to travellers from NSW despite the rise in cases.
But it warns it won’t hesitate to act if Sydney’s Covid-19 cluster continues to expand.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says Sydney’s northern peninsula has been declared a high community transmission zone.
He says people who recently travelled to SA and had visited Avalon RSL and Avalon Bowlo will be placed into hotel quarantine.
Long lines of passengers are seen trying to depart Sydney Domestic Airport on Friday. Those travelling to WA will have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, regardless of if they return a negative result, destroying Christmas plans for many
Airline passengers wait in line to check in at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith domestic airport. Many people are anticipating border closures and are trying to leave the city beforehand
WESTERN AUSTRALIA:
State Premier Mark McGowan previously said the Sydney outbreak ‘may well mean that the hard border with NSW needs to return in the near future’.
‘Whilst that might be upsetting for people, we’ll do what we have to do to keep having a great record in WA and keep the health and welfare of West Australians paramount,’ Mr McGowan said.
‘I’m very sympathetic to people who want to visit family and catch up with parents and children over the course of the Christmas period.’
Mr McGowan said he also believes ‘NSW should go to tougher measures’.
‘The sooner that NSW crushes it, the sooner they kill it, the better it is for them and the better it is for the entire country,’ he said.
‘What Victoria and South Australia showed is you can eliminate the virus. You can kill the virus if you put in place the right measures.’
After more than four months of lockdown, the Victorian Government is desperately trying to avoid a third wave of infections in the state.
An airport staff disinfects part of the Perth Airport terminal. Mr McGowan said he also believes ‘NSW should go to tougher measures’
WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) said the Sydney outbreak ‘may well mean that the hard border with NSW needs to return in the near future’