South Australia introduces hard border, Qld to reimpose border passes as Melbourne’s COVID-19 outbreak grows

South Australia introduces hard border, Qld to reimpose border passes as Melbourne’s COVID-19 outbreak grows
By Travel Weekly


South Australia and Queensland are taking no chances on the growing COVID-19 outbreak at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport quarantine hotel, with both states announcing a tightening of travel restrictions.

People who have been in Greater Melbourne on or after 4 February are not permitted to enter South Australia unless they are essential travellers, escaping domestic violence, returning residents or relocating to the state.

Travellers entering South Australia via plane from a low community transmission zone are permitted to transit through Melbourne Airport, provided they are there for no longer than two hours and wear a face mask for the entirety of the time they are in transit, including while on the plane.

Travellers entering South Australia via car from a low community transmission zone are permitted to travel through Greater Melbourne, provided they wear a mask for the entirety of the time they come in contact with the public, use the most direct route and stop only for respite and other essential purposes such as fuel.

From 1am (AEST) on Saturday 13 February, anyone entering Queensland who has been anywhere in Victoria on or since 5 February 2021 will need to apply for a border pass beforehand.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said it was too early to declare a hot spot in Melbourne because all of the city’s cases have been contracted within hotel quarantine.

The moves come as two further individuals linked to the Holiday Inn Airport outbreak tested positive to coronavirus. Both are household primary close contacts of currently confirmed hotel staff cases.

Featured image source: IHG Hotels & Resorts

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