An update has been made to the Cross Border Travel restrictions in South Australia.
The Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 10) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 11) (COVID-19) Direction 2020. This new Direction comes into effect as of 0001 Friday 14 August 2020.
The new Direction provides an update to the restrictions currently in place for cross border travellers into and out of South Australia, COVID-19 testing requirements and updates to several Essential Traveller categories.
COVID-19 Testing Requirements
Changes have been made to allow the following essential traveller categories to specify that they must have a COVID-19 test within the last 7 days and must produce evidence to an authorised officer if requested:
- Emergency service workers;
- Commercial transport and freight;
- Remote or isolated workers;
- Cross border community members;
- Seasonal workers in an essential sector; and
- Passing through.
All other Essential Travellers are still required to get tested on day one and twelve.
Cross Border Community Member Essential TravellersAs of 12:01am 21 August 2020, Cross Border Community Members that travel to or from Victoria are no longer permitted unless for the following reasons:
- They are undertaking year 11 or year 12 high school education in South Australia; or
- They are undertaking agricultural/primary industry work at a location in Victoria which is situated at or near the South Australian border and that is accessible without stopping in any township or built up area.
Note- the travel to or from Victoria must only be for the above defined activities and persons doing so must have prior approval.
No other changes have been made to the definition or restriction of Cross Border Community Members.
Residents crossing to or from New South Wales are still permitted to travel 50kms for essential services only.
Compassionate Grounds Essential TravellersPeople entering South Australia on a Compassionate Grounds Essential Traveller status (where relevant) must now seek approval from the relevant facility as well as the already existing approval from the Chief Executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing, the South Australian Chief Public Health Officer or a deputy Chief Public Health Officer. This includes visiting a critically or terminally ill member of the person’s immediate family or for the purpose of end of life support for a member of the person’s immediate family where the person is a resident of a residential aged care facility.
It is acknowledged that many restrictions still apply, but they are critical in dealing with the spread of COVID-19.
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations
If you require further information you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 9am to 5pm 7 days per week or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
