SA border reopens to regional Victoria, stays closed to Covid-hit greater Melbourne

South Australia has eased its hard-border closure to Victoria today, opening back up to all areas apart from greater Melbourne.

South Australia has reopened its borders to regional Victoria as that state gets on top of a Covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria recorded no new cases on Tuesday morning, with 54 active cases, down from 64 on Monday.

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Later on Tuesday it revealed two new cases – which will be included in Wednesday’s count - that sent a south Melbourne tower into lockdown.

Premier Steven Marshall. Picture: Russell Millard

It had just two cases on Monday, both in children.

Premier Steven Marshall said SA’s Transition Committee on Tuesday agreed to allow travellers from regional Victoria – everywhere outside greater Melbourne – to enter SA.

They must take a Covid test on day one of entry only and quarantine until a negative result.

Essential travellers must also take a test and quarantine until they receive a negative result.

There is no change for travellers from the greater Melbourne area, who remain unable to enter SA.

The new directions came into place just after 4pm.

The Cross Border-Associated Direction has been updated in South Australia. For more information see: https://t.co/IcpqMSolMZpic.twitter.com/EB90dvsKZ7

— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) June 15, 2021

“This will be a massive relief to people in regional Victoria,” Mr Marshall said. “We’ll keep looking at the statistics coming out of greater Melbourne, and if we can lift those restrictions, then we will do that.

“We still have some concerns in greater Melbourne, there are still cases coming through.”

Mr Marshall said he was aware school holidays were coming up, but SA Health was “reluctant” to give him a date that borders could reopen to the greater Melbourne area.

“They still have significant mobility restrictions in greater Melbourne itself,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Marshall also announced $69m in the upcoming State Budget for new apprenticeships and traineeships. Employers who take them on will receive wage subsidies of up to $32,000. He also announced $4m to wipe out payroll tax for new apprentices and new trainees.

SA extended its hard-border shutdown to all Victorian travellers on May 29.

More than 18,000 people have arrived in SA from Victoria since the border was closed, figures show, mostly essential workers such as truck drivers, while others include 389 people granted exemptions by SA Health.

Among those allowed were the Collingwood and Geelong football club players.

The committee met on Tuesday to discuss the border and Victorian outbreak, which was caused by a leak at Adelaide's Playford medi-hotel before running rampant across Melbourne.