An update has been made to the public activity restrictions in South Australia.
The Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 15) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 16) (COVID-19) Direction 2020. This new Direction comes into effect as of 0001 Thursday 8 October 2020.
The new Direction provides an update to the restrictions currently in place for cross border travellers into and out of South Australia and allows travellers to transit through Mildura if they are travelling from a low community transmission zone.
Cross Border Community Member Essential Travellers
Changes have been made to the definition of the Cross Border Community Member which now allows people who live up to 70km into Victoria or South Australia to be classified as an Essential Traveller.
A person travelling the SA/VIC border as an approved cross border community member is not permitted to travel more than 70km into South Australia or Victoria from the point at which they entered.
Cross Border Community Members are required to submit to a COVID-19 test within the last 7 days or on day 1 &12. Entry as a Cross Border Community Member is only permitted for the purposes of; employment, education; providing care and support to another person, receiving care and support to another person, obtaining food, petrol or other fuel or medical care or supplies.
Cross Border Community Members with an already approved travel status do not need to apply for a new approval unless they are applying under different Essential Traveller criteria.
Travelling through Mildura
The direction has been updated allow travellers from a low community transmission zone to transit directly through Mildura, Victoria in order to get to South Australia.
Travellers must not stop (unless under the law or for an emergency) in Victoria and must travel directly to the South Australia/Victoria border. Travellers who do stop in Victoria and do not comply with the direct travel provisions will not be granted entry into South Australia.
Travellers are only permitted to travel on the following roads:
– Sturt Highway to Yamba
– Calder Highway and Meridian Road between Abbotsford Bridge and the Sturt Highway to Yamba
Quarantine Requirements
The direction has been amended to clarify requirements when self-quarantining in that once the person has arrived at the place to commence self-quarantining they must remain in that place for 14 days. The day of arrival is not counted and is classified as day zero, self-quarantine will need to be undertaken in the subsequent 14 days.
People travelling from overseas that arrive in South Australia on a connecting flight from a low community transmission zone (WA, NT, QLD, ACT, NSW or TAS) will have to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days commencing on the date of their arrival in the low community transmission zone.
Travellers who are required to remain quarantined at a place determined by an authorised officer must not refuse a COVID-19 test. If the person refuses, the person will be required to undertake an additional 10 days quarantine at the conclusion of the 14 day quarantine period. People travelling with this person must also remain in quarantine for an additional 10 days whether they have had a COVID-19 test or not. Children under the age of 16 years who are required to remain quarantined at a place determined by an authorised officer are required to submit to a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival and on day 12.
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
For further information please 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
