As of 11.59pm tonight, anyone arriving in Victoria who has been in one of nine southern African countries in the past 14 days will be required to undertake 14 days’ hotel quarantine.
The new public health measures, which are being implemented by Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, are in line with advice from the Commonwealth and are a precautionary response to the new Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern. There are currently no known cases of the Omicron variant reported in Victoria.
The nine countries are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, The Seychelles, and Zimbabwe.
Anyone already in Victoria who has been in any of the nine southern African countries in the past 14 days must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days. The number of travellers in this category is believed to be very small and they are being contacted directly.
All new vaccinated arrivals into Victoria from countries other than the above nine countries must quarantine at home for 72 hours. This also applies to unvaccinated children under 12 years old, and unaccompanied minors, and anyone medically exempt from vaccination.
Home quarantine can include private accommodation such as a hotel or holiday rental provided travellers don’t share bedrooms, bathrooms or facilities with people outside their travelling party. Anyone they are residing with must also quarantine for 72 hours.
The public health orders will be reviewed after three days and may be extended if necessary, based on public health advice.
Under existing public health orders, before arrival in Victoria, travellers must have an international passenger travel permit. All overseas arrivals must also undergo a standard PCR test within 24 hours and between day 5 and day 7 of entering Victoria.
All vaccinated Australian based aircrew who have been to one of the nine countries above must quarantine for 14 days at their place of residence or alternate accommodation until their next flight. All vaccinated Australian based aircrew arriving from another international country and have not been to one of the nine countries listed above must quarantine at home or their place of residence for 72 hours.
International aircrew will have to quarantine in Victoria’s hotel quarantine program for 72 hours or 14 days – depending on whether they have been in one of the nine countries or not. Testing requirements also apply.
