SA tightens border rules in wake of Mildura case
South Australia has tightened its eastern borders with Victoria and NSW overnight after a COVID-19 infection was recorded in Mildura, with people in the state’s Riverland urged to limit their movements.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily
People who have travelled from Mildura Local Government Area since July 11, 2021, will be required to quarantine for 14 days since arrival in SA and will be required to receive a COVID-19 test on days one, five & 13.
The NSW Cross Border corridor is now limited to the local government area of Broken Hill and communities in SA including Manna Hill, Olary, Tiaklina and Cockburn.
People are encouraged to limit their travel in and out of the Riverland area and are advised to seek testing for even the mildest of symptoms if they have been in this area.
The Mildura infection reported yesterday was in a man who had presented at hospital with COVID-19 symptoms after attending the Carlton-Geelong AFL match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground the previous weekend.
Travellers outside of the corridor will no longer be permitted to enter South Australia unless an Essential Traveller or Permitted Arrival. Cross border corridor residents will still be permitted to enter SA however, only for a strict number of reasons.
SA residents outside of the corridor travelling to Broken Hill will only be able to do so for essential work or with a health exemption.
The Victorian cross border corridor will be reduced to 40km, down from 70km, and the reasons that people are permitted to travel will also be reduced.
The cross-border corridor reasons for travel include: employment or education; providing care and support to, or receiving care and support from, another person; obtaining food, petrol or other fuel or medical care or supplies; or, obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
All South Australians returning from Victoria must now self-quarantine for 14 days and get tested on day one, five and 13.
SA chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier urged people in the Riverland to limit their movements where possible.
She said a decision on easing rules for South Australians travelling to and from Queensland would likely not be made until the end of the week.
“It’s pretty fast-moving and things are evolving,” she told ABC Radio this morning.
“What we are seeing is people are getting infected and the incubation is quite short and they are able to infect other people quite easily.”
There were no COVID-19 cases reported in South Australia yesterday.
