NT downgrades border ban to SA to only restrict travel to Adelaide
As South Australia goes into a six-day lockdown, the Northern Territory has partially relaxed its border ban, while New South Wales and Victoria have upgraded their travel advice for SA.
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As South Australia goes into a six-day lockdown, the Northern Territory has partially relaxed its border ban to only restrict travel to Adelaide.
Two days after the NT slammed its borders shut, territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles said this morning the NT would reduce its hot spot definition from the whole state to only 20 local government areas of Adelaide and nearby areas.
“Based on the early information we went hard, we went wide but we are now, based on more clinical information, able to reduce the hot spot declaration to Adelaide and surrounding suburbs,” she told ABC this morning.
Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT have upgraded their advice to residents to urge them not to travel to SA at this time unless it is essential, but have kept their borders open.
“We are confident that South Australia has it under control,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“We are just saying to our community, yes, the borders are completely open but if you can delay it for a few day, unless you have to go there, please do so.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he would not close the border to South Australia but would wait and see how the outbreak unfolded.
“I don’t want to close the border - but I won’t rule that out,” he said.
“That’s not what’s needed now.”
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley requested South Australians to not travel into Victoria unless it was essential but said borders remained open with extra screening.
“We are monitoring very closely the position in South Australia but at the moment our public health advice is that the South Australians are staying ahead of this,” he said.
“On that basis we see no reasons to close our borders and we look forward to a COVID-normal Christmas, so all Victorians and all Australians can share that special time with their family in a safe manner.”
Victoria never closed its border to SA, but SA is not due to lift its border restrictions to Victoria until December 1.
It comes a day after federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there was no medical justification for states to close their borders to SA.
Tasmania’s Premier Peter Gutwein will give a press conference at 2pm.
Yesterday, he flagged the hot spot definition for regional SA may be relaxed in coming days.
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