ACT to close border to Victorians

Canberra at dusk, from Red Hill lookout.

The nation’s capital will follow New South Wales in introducing border restrictions for Victorians.

ACT chief minister Andrew Barr told the press the territory would introduce the restrictions from midnight on Tuesday, a move he said will “significantly reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading from Victoria to the Canberra region”.

Anyone travelling to the ACT from Victoria will be denied entry unless they receive an exemption from either the NSW government or the ACT government, Barr said.

“Residents of the ACT or NSW will be able to return home, but they will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days,” the chief minister told the press.

“We anticipate that these arrangements will only remain in place whilst the NSW and Victoria border is closed.”

Barr said ACT residents should not travel to Victoria for any reason other than essential purposes.

The news comes as the Northern Territory’s chief minister, Michael Gunner, announced Victorians living in greater Melbourne would not be able to freely visit the NT when it opens its borders on 17 July.

Any arrivals from Melbourne into the NT will be forced to undertake two weeks of hotel quarantine at their own cost, after the city was designated a coronavirus hotspot, as reported by NT News.

“These rules apply to everyone, not just Victorians. That includes Territorians. Territorians should reconsider any planned travel to any location in Melbourne in the near future,” Gunner told the press.

“Right now, the problem is confined to Melbourne, but we will keep a watching brief on the rest of Victoria.”

Gunner said hotspot areas may be added prior to 17 July, depending on the health advice.

“However, I want to make clear that no area in the greater Melbourne region will be removed from the list prior to 17 July,” he said.

“They will stay shut off from the Territory until further notice. This gives interstate travellers certainty about our rules.”

It comes as NSW and Victoria prepare to temporarily close the border between them, off the back of significant community transmission of the coronavirus.

Featured image source: iStock/kokkai

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act Andrew Barr Michael Gunner northern territory nsw victoria