A tram in Melbourne, which is now under a five-day lockdown along with the rest of Victoria. Image by Ralf Genge from Pixabay
New South Wales is not closing its borders with Victoria in the wake of the announcement by the Victorian Government of a five-day ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown in the state, which became effective from midnight last night (Friday).
However, NSW has tightened entry requirements for returning NSW residents with the signing of a new Public Health Order.
Under the state-wide Order, anyone arriving in NSW from Victoria must remain at their home or place of residence for the five-day period announced by the Victorian Government. The date previously advised for implementing the Order has been updated following advice from the NSW Chief Health Officer.
People arriving in NSW from Victoria by air, rail or road – with the exception of people living in the border area – will also be required to complete an online declaration form.
According to an announcement by the NSW health department, residents in border communities will have different requirements. This is in an effort to recognising their practical daily interaction with people from Victoria.
For NSW residents living along the Victorian border, the five-day stay-at-home requirement only applies to people who have visited Greater Melbourne after 11.59pm on Friday 12 February. It will not apply to NSW border residents who travel into regional Victoria.
The border community is defined by the map which was used for the large border ‘bubble’ arrangements at the end of the NSW-Victorian border closure last year.
The Victorian restrictions became effective at midnight last night and, under current arrangements, will expire at 11.59pm on Wednesday 17 February. The NSW Order will ensure those affected by stay-at-home orders will have to abide by the same restrictions as Victorians.
People will be permitted to leave their places of residence for the same four reasons allowed under the Victorian measures. These are: shopping for essential items, medical and other care and caregiving, exercise, and essential work.
“NSW strongly advises against all non-essential travel to Victoria at this time. People who do choose to travel will be required to follow the stay-at-home requirement on their return,” the health department said in a statement.