Updates have been made to the Cross Border Travel and Residential Aged Care Facilities Directions. These updates come into effect 12.01 am on Monday 21 December 2020.
The information in this update, only highlights the key changes made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information.
The State Coordinator and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has announced important updates for people who have travelled to South Australia from High Community Transmission Zones (HCTZ) which are the Greater Sydney Region in New South Wales (as defined by the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 NSW – excluding the Northern Beaches Council local government area); the Northern Beaches in New South Wales; Central Coast local government area in New South Wales; and the City of Wollongong local government area in New South Wales. Relevant dates for these areas are mentioned below.
For any person who has travelled to South Australia from a HCTZ on or after the relevant dates nominated below; and arrived before 12.01 am on Monday 21 December 2020, you do not need to self-quarantine but you must get a COVID-19 test immediately within 24 hours; then day 5; and then day 12.
Any person who arrives in SA from a HCTZ after 12.01 am on Monday 21 December 2020 is required to self-quarantine for the remainder of a 14 day period commencing on the last day the person was present in the HCTZ and also must get a COVID-19 test immediately within 24 hours; then day 5; and then day 12.
You may quarantine at a suitable location where you can be isolated. This requires complete separation from others in the household and if this is not suitable, then accommodation can be provided in an authorised medi-hotel.
It is important that anyone travelling from New South Wales reads the following information. Please note that the below release contains much of the same information with the updated details for a holistic view.
Cross Border Travel Direction No 25
The changes are as follow:
A Prohibited Location is the Northern Beaches Council local government area in New South Wales.
The high community transmission zone is comprised of the following—
- the Greater Sydney Region in New South Wales, as defined by the
Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 (NSW)(excluding the Northern Beaches Council local government area);
- the Central Coast local government area in New South Wales;
- the City of Wollongong local government area in New South Wales;
High community transmission zone arrival means a person—
- who was physically present in the Greater Sydney Region in New South Wales, as defined by the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 (NSW)(excluding the Northern Beaches Council local government area) on or after 11 December 2020;
- who was physically present in the Central Coast local government area in New South Wales on or after 20 December 2020;
- who was physically present in the City of Wollongong local government area in New South Wales on or after 20 December 2020;
The following class of persons are excluded from the high community transmission zone arrival definition:
- a person travelling in transit through Sydney Airport for no longer than 2 hours, and wearing a face mask for the entirety of the time they are in transit; or
- an overseas arrival who having completed 14 days of quarantine, travels directly to Sydney Airport in a vehicle, is physically present at Sydney Airport for no longer than 2 hours, and is wearing a face mask for the entirety of the time they are present at Sydney Airport.
Entry by persons who have been present in a prohibited location is prohibited
A person who has been physically present at a prohibited location at any time on or after the relevant date is prohibited from entering South Australia.
Directions from an authorised officer
If a person was physically present at a prohibited location on or after the relevant date, returned to South Australia prior to the commencement of this direction, upon their arrival in South Australia was given a specific direction regarding quarantine by an authorised officer, that person is to continue to comply with the specific direction, until otherwise subsequently given any further direction by an authorised officer.
Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction No 20
The Residential Aged Care Facilities No 20 Direction came into effect as of 12.01 am on Monday 21 December 2020.
The key change to the Residential Aged Care Facilities Direction is:
- High Community Transmission Zones expanded to:
- the Greater Sydney Region in New South Wales, as defined by the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015 (NSW)(excluding the Northern Beaches Council local government area);
- the Central Coast local government area in New South Wales;
- the City of Wollongong local government area in New South Wales.
People from these areas are not permitted to enter an aged care facility.
The Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 24) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel No 25)(COVID-19) Direction 2020. The Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 19)(COVID-19) Direction has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 20)(COVID-19) Direction.
As stated earlier the information above only highlights the changes key made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information. Other existing requirements remain.
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
