SA Health data reveals hordes still streaming over state’s closed borders

Getting into South Australia is hard work at the moment but new health data reveals just how many travellers a day are still coming in, even after the latest outbreak fears.

Thousands of essential travellers, including the Covid-positive removalists who have caused a scramble to avoid an outbreak, have entered the state since borders were slammed shut.

According to SA Health data, up to 2200 essential travellers crossed the border daily over the past week despite New South Wales, the ACT and southeast Queensland still being restricted zones.

Travellers can be classed ­essential for reasons including work in commercial transport, freight and emergency ­services, and work in remote areas.

Workers entering from Victoria are now also required to satisfy the essential status criteria after border rules changed at midnight.

SA Police check truck drivers at the Yamba checkpoint on the SA-Victoria border. Picture: Darren Seiler.

The removalists met the conditions in order to enter South Australia from Sydney.

SA Police said it was the responsibility of essential travellers to understand their responsibilities.

“Upon arrival, essential travellers go through a screening process. However it is incumbent that the traveller is aware of (the rules in) any jurisdiction in which they are entering,” a spokesman said.

South Australians returning from restricted zones in NSW, ACT and southeast Queensland must apply for an ­exemption.

Deputy chief public health officer Emily Kirkpatrick said applications were being assessed on a case-by-case basis because of the current risk.

“We have been allowing exemptions on compassionate grounds, particularly, and also for individuals who need to return home for particular reasons into SA,” she said.

Deputy public health officer Dr Emily Kirkpatrick said exemptions had been allowed but would now be approved on a case-by-case basis. Picture: David Mariuz

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said he was satisfied with scrutiny of applications.

“The exemption process will investigate the same sets of circumstances – whether you are a person who is genuinely relocating to South Australia from New South Wales and now Victoria, as of midnight (last night),” he said.

“The exemptions committee will scrutinise the ability for that particular person or group of people to provide a safe quarantining environment and a decision will be made based on that. We don’t allow people to automatically tick a box and come in as a returning resident, they now have to satisfy us that they can properly quarantine.”

Mobile phone and GPS data have been used in contact tracing the three removalists, but SA Police said it could not compel positive cases to hand phones over.