COVID-19 UPDATES FOR AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA: 21.09.20 Update

The State of Victoria has announced plans which will extend the stage 4 restrictions with some "reductions" until 28 September 2020, then stage 3 restrictions will apply.

Its a very complicated announcement so please refer to the State of Victoria Government site!

The Victorian Government also released a Roadmap for the progressive lifting of restrictions. Please see this link for details.

Stage 4 restrictions for Melbourne

For Melbourne, new restrictions will take effect from 6 pm today (Sunday 2 August). A curfew will be in place from 8 pm this evening. Curfews will be in operation from 8 pm to 5 am every evening. People are only allowed to leave their house for work and essential health, care or safety reasons.

Outside of these hours, you are only allowed to leave your house for 1 of the following four reasons:

• To purchase food and necessary supplies. This must be done within a 5km radius from where you live. Only 1 person per household can leave for essential goods, and only once per day. For some people, the nearest goods and services will be more than 5km away. In this situation, you may travel beyond 5km to the nearest provider. If you are unable to leave home because it would mean leaving a young child or at-risk person at home unattended, then they may accompany you.
• Exercise once a day for up to 1 hour within a 5km radius of your home. Gathering sizes will be limited to 2. If you are unable to leave home because it would mean leaving a young child or at-risk person at home unattended, then they may accompany you.
• For care and health care including accompanying someone for essential medical care if you are a carer, guardian or necessary support person. The 5km limit does not apply to care or caregiving.
• Work. Study at TAFE and university must be done remotely. The 5km limit does not apply to work.

Unfortunately, this means no recreational activities like diving or fishing.

The fine for not wearing or carrying a face covering will be $200.

The State of Disaster in Victoria has been declared and will be in place until the middle of September 2020. This gives move power to enforcement & monitoring of restrictions.

Travel around Victoria now banned.

Interstate travel is banned into all states with each state around Victoria manning the borders.

Regional Victoria including Mitchell Shire will move to Stage 3 restrictions

This means you must stay home except for the following four reasons:

• For food and essential supplies
• For study or work
• For care and healthcare
• And for exercise or outdoor recreation

When outside your home, you must wear a face covering.

No visitors are allowed at your home, and you are only allowed to gather with one person from outside your household in public.

OFFICIAL VIC GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: VIC Restrictions

NSW: 21.09.20 Update

As per today border restrictions as still in place for Victoria, with the easing of restrictions for VIC/NSW border citizens from 17 September. ( see NSW Govt website for details)

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NSW has temporarily imposed border restrictions with Victoria. Only persons authorised under the public health order may enter NSW if they have been in Victoria in the last 14 days.

From Friday 7 August, NSW residents returning from Victoria will only be allowed to enter via Sydney Airport or another NSW airport. You must then immediately go into mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at your own expense.

Special arrangements are in place for border communities and critical services workers in the border region.

The order applies to all people who have been in Victoria in the past 14 days and wish to travel to or through NSW.

Excluding Victoria, there are no restrictions in place for all other states on crossing the NSW border. However, each state or territory has its own entry requirements and travel restrictions. You must comply with any border rules of the state or territory you are entering or leaving.

NSW Premier recommends wearing a mask while out & about

From 12:01 am Friday, 24 July 2020 the following rules will be in force as NSW enters a state of ‘COVID normal’. This includes new restrictions of numbers at bars. pubs, clubs & restaurants to 10 maximum. No lockdowns as yet but trying to stop the second wave. Full details on the link below

OFFICIAL NSW GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: Border Restrictions Guide, "COVID Normal"

QUEENSLAND: 21.09.20 Update

Restrictions still remain in place as below although NSW Border region changed on 5 September.

If ACT remains at Zero Cases then of the 25 September at 01.00am this will change too:

• The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will no longer be considered a COVID-19 hotspot, if there are no new cases between 18 September and 25 September
• Travellers coming from the ACT into Queensland will not need to quarantine upon their arrival, as long as they have not been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the past 14 days.

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All of Victoria, New South Wales & the Australian Capital Territory are now COVID-19 hotspots.

Travel by air only no road entry allowed.

You can only enter Queensland from a hotspot if you travel by air. You cannot travel by road through a hotspot.

The only people allowed to enter Queensland by road are:

• truck drivers
• workers related to the transport of freight and logistics
• people performing essential activities
• border zone residents.

Everyone must quarantine on arrival in an approved government facility.

Flying out of Melbourne Tullamarine airport

If you have had a layover at Melbourne Tullamarine airport you will be required to quarantine for 14 days in government arranged accommodation at your own expense when you arrive. If you completed your quarantine in Melbourne Tullamarine airport you will be required to complete another 14 days quarantine upon arrival into Queensland.

If you have had a layover at an airport located in other hotspots, you will be able to enter Queensland without quarantining as long as you didn’t leave the airport.

Overview

To slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) the Queensland Government is tightening its border restrictions.

Anyone can enter Queensland unless they have been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days.

The tightening of restrictions means people who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot within the last 14 days will no longer be able to quarantine in Queensland and will be turned away at our border. This applies to everyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the past 14 days, except people needed in Queensland for essential activities. Queensland residents who have been in a COVID-19 hotspot can return home but will be required to quarantine in government-provided accommodation at their expense.

COVID-19 hotspots are updated regularly here.

You must complete a Queensland Border Declaration Pass before you come to Queensland. This will include agreeing to get tested for COVID-19 if you develop any symptoms within 14 days of arriving in Queensland.

You will have to quarantine when you enter if you:

• have been overseas in the last 14 days
• you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• you have been in a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days (and you are allowed to enter)
• you have COVID-19 or have had COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• you have had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days.

You are only allowed to enter Queensland if you have been in a hotspot in the last 14 days, if:

• your usual residence is in Queensland
• you need to comply with an order to attend a Court or Tribunal or to give effect to orders of the Court or Tribunal
• you have to fulfil a legal obligation relating to shared parenting or child access
• you have to assist with or participate in a State or Commonwealth law enforcement investigation or other action at the request or direction of a State or Commonwealth department or law enforcement agency
• you need to come to Queensland to complete an essential activity
• you arrive into Queensland by air and you transfer directly to another flight to leave Queensland and don’t leave the airport or quarantine until your flight out of Queensland
• were in a COVID-19 hotspot for the sole purpose of transiting through an airport and didn’t leave the airport or transiting through the hotspot by road, without leaving a private vehicle or taxi or ride-share, unless for an emergency or as directed by police or transport authority
• you are moving to Queensland to live
• you are a student at a higher education institution or boarding school, along with a parent or guardian accompanying a minor, and are entering Queensland for study
• are avoiding serious injury or escaping an immediate risk of serious harm
  • For example, you are escaping a risk of harm related to sexual or domestic and family violence

You will be required to complete 14 days mandatory quarantine in government arranged accommodation at your own expense unless exceptional circumstances apply.

There are some exceptions to the Quarantine rule, please check the main web page for details.

OFFICIAL QLD GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: For Travel, For COVID-19 hotspots,

SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 21.09.20 Update

Travel & activity in the state of South Australia is possible with social distancing & number restrictions, for South Australians.. (Diving possible still).

Numbers reduced from 100 to 50 & alcohol served while seating only.

A direction is in place regarding traffic entering South Australia.

The State of Victoria

Only essential travellers are able to enter SA from Victoria. South Australians are no longer be able to return to SA from Victoria.

If you are travelling into South Australia, by road or via the Adelaide airport, you need to complete the cross border pre-approval form at least 72 hours prior to your arrival.

Pre-approval will speed up the border crossing process and provide certainty for you about any restrictions that may apply before reaching the border.

From 12.01 am Friday 21 August, cross border community members will not be able to enter South Australia from Victoria unless they can apply under a different category of Essential Traveller.

All other states

Travellers from ACT, NT, QLD, TAS and WA are able to enter South Australia directly without restriction.

Those travelling to South Australia via air from low community transmission zones can now transit through Sydney without the requirement for COVID-19 testing or 14-day self-quarantine upon arrival, providing they do not leave the airport and have been in a low community transmission zone for 14 days. (This will need to be proved on arrival see the SA Govt Website).

Travellers from NSW, other than essential travellers, will be required to:

• self-quarantine for 14 days after entering SA
• submit for COVID-19 testing on:
  • the first day of entry to SA (the day of arrival)
  • the twelfth day of arrival.

For more details please follow below links.

OFFICIAL SA GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: Border Restrictions,   Main Restrictions page

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 21.09.20 Update

The WA Government has declared a State of Emergency for Western Australia.

Travel is now permitted throughout all regions within WA, except for entry into remote Aboriginal communities. Activities are allowed with social distancing & number restrictions.

STRICT BORDER CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.

You cannot enter WA unless you are an exempt traveller. The Quarantine (Closing the Border) Directions, as amended, set out exempt traveller categories. Entry into Western Australia may be subject to terms and conditions, including a requirement to quarantine for 14 days. You may apply for an exemption via G2G PASS.

OFFICIAL WA GOVERNMENT WEBSITE:  Travel to WA Restrictions, MAIN COVID-19 Page

NORTHERN TERRITORY: 21.09.20 Update

Travel & activities are possible in the Northern Territory with social distancing & number restrictions. (Diving & tourism activities possible).

Strict border controls apply for all access points to the Northern Territory. 

All arrivals to the Northern Territory (NT) must:

• fill in a Border Entry Form
• complete 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine at your own expense*, if you have recently been in a declared COVID-19 hot spot.

If travelling to or from an airport within a declared hotpot, point 4 from the ‘Directions for COVID-19 Hotspots’ below provides advice.

This will be at your own cost. The cost per person for supervised quarantine is $2500.

OFFICIAL NT GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: Border restrictions, MAIN COVID-19 Page, Hotspots

TASMANIA: 21.09.20 Update

Travel & activities are possible in Tasmania with social distancing & number restrictions. (Diving & tourism activities possible).

A state of emergency has been declared.

The Tasmanian Government has announced its current border restrictions will now remain in place (no set date for opening as yet).

Border restrictions in Tasmania are based on the locations travellers have spent time in during the 14 days prior to their arrival in Tasmania.

This determines whether travellers will be permitted to enter the State, where they must quarantine and other requirements such as wearing masks and undertaking COVID-19 testing.

The following restrictions apply to people entering

Tasmania if they have been in an Affected Region or an Affected Premises that pose an elevated risk of transmission of COVID-19. Read the list of high-risk locations.

• Tasmanian residents, who are not classified as Essential Travellers, must quarantine in government-designated accommodation for 14 days. Read more about Quarantine, including fees payable.
• Non-Tasmanian residents, who are not classified as Essential Travellers, are not permitted to enter Tasmania and will be turned back at their own expense.
• Essential Travellers are not required to quarantine but are required to undertake health screening and a COVID-19 test on arrival, wear a face mask and limit their movement when not in the workplace. Anyone refusing to be tested will go into quarantine at government-designated accommodation for 14 days (and be required to pay the government-designated accommodation fee) or can leave Tasmania at their own expense. See Essential Travellers for more information.

People coming to Tasmania are not considered to have spent time in an Affected Region provided they have:

• transited directly through an airport and did not leave the airport except to board a flight; or
• transited directly through an affected region by vehicle to an airport or seaport without breaking their journey, except to obtain fuel.

The following restrictions apply to travellers from within Australia who have not spent time in an Affected Region (currently Victoria) or Affected Premises in the 14 days prior to arriving in Tasmania. See the above category for restrictions if you have been in these areas.

• Tasmanian residents, who are not classified as Essential Travellers, are required to quarantine for 14 days at their primary residence.
• Non-Tasmanian residents, who are not classified as Essential Travellers, are required to quarantine in government-designated accommodation.
• Essential Travellers are not required to quarantine but must undertake health screening on arrival and comply with the conditions described in Conditions for Essential Travellers. The State Controller may also apply additional conditions. See Essential Travellers for more information.

Read more about Quarantine, including fees payable for government-designated quarantine.

OFFICIAL TAS GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: Border restrictions, MAIN COVID-19 Page, 

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 21.09.20 Update

Travel & activities are possible in the ACT with social distancing & number restrictions. (Diving & activities possible).

Travel for Canberrans to SA is possible without quarantine on arrival if you have been in a low community transmission zone for 14 days or longer.

ACT Government urges Canberrans not to travel to areas where COVID-19 outbreaks are occurring. Currently, this includes:

• all of Victoria
• Greater Sydney
  
• Areas of Queensland

Due to NSW updating their border restrictions for travel from Victoria, entry to the ACT from Victoria is now only possible through Canberra Airport, by air. The NSW Public Health Direction can be viewed at the NSW Department of Health website.

Exception: The NSW Government is allowing ACT residents with an Entry Authorisation Certificate issued by the ACT Chief Health Officer to cross the border at Wodonga at 9am each day from 13 - 17 August inclusive. After 17 August 2020, no other ACT residents will be allowed through the border by road and the ACT Government will not issue any more exemptions to drive to the ACT while the NSW/Vic border remains closed. After 17 August 2020, everyone else who has applied for an exemption will need to reapply and request to travel by air.

ACT residents can return home from Victoria by air but are required to enter quarantine until 14 days after leaving Victoria. ACT residents must notify ACT Health of their intention to return. This notification should be made as early as possible, and at least 72 hours before the intended travel date, wherever possible.

If you return to the ACT from NSW, or current hotspots, you may be required to quarantine for 14 days after you arrive. ( Check the ACT website for specific details).

OFFICIAL ACT GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: Border restrictions, MAIN COVID-19 Page

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES: 21.09.20 Update

There is a ban on Australians travelling overseas.

Smartraveller Travel Advice is Level 4 - Do Not Travel overseas.

Exceptions include:

• for those citizens who usually live overseas
• where travel is essential
• where travel is in the national interest
• on compassionate and humanitarian grounds.

Australian Border Force manages these exemptions.

More travel advice is available on the Australian Department of Health website.

OFFICIAL AUS GOVERNMENT WEBSITE: Smartraveller COVID Updates