Coronavirus: Call for rethink on South Australia’s hard border closure as COVID-19 cases drop in regional Victoria
With the number of COVID-19 cases in regional Victoria dramatically dropping, calls are being made for a rethink of South Australia’s hard border closure. VOTE IN OUR POLL.
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A drastic decline in COVID-19 cases in regional Victoria is prompting calls for a rethink on South Australia’s hard border.
There are now only three active coronavirus cases in the state’s regions, of the 305 total active cases in Victoria.
That compares with the more than 700 active coronavirus cases in the state in the days leading up to South Australia’s hard border closure on July 9.
Mildura MP Ali Cupper reiterated her calls for a travel bubble for her electorate, and relaxing travel restrictions for Victorians in regions near the border.
Tourism Industry Council SA chief executive Shaun de Bruyn said he strongly supported opening the economy wherever possible.
“We absolutely support authorities reducing the geographical size of the spaces they need to close down,” he said.
Mr de Bruyn said South Australia’s recent welcoming of people from the ACT before opening to NSW showed how the COVID-19 risk could be managed through isolating problem areas rather than strict border controls. The ACT did not have a hard border closure with NSW.
Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast chairman Peter Gandolfi said “the Limestone Coast since settlement has had a close association with regard to commerce, with Victoria, and the sooner that can be re-engaged, the better”.
“But it’s got to be done in a safe, managed way, without risking the health of people in SA,” he said.
“The position that the State Government has taken needs ongoing review, but we also need to ensure that measures are in place so those travelling from Victoria aren’t in contact with others within the state that may have contracted COVID-19.”
Mildura MP Ali Cupper said with no local cases, there was now an even stronger case to create a travel bubble for her electorate.
Many Mildura locals rely heavily on SA for health appointments, and have strong family connections to the state.
Many locals were keen to avoid travelling into Melbourne because of concerns about potential infection, Ms Cupper said, and wanted to keep seeing the Adelaide specialists they had established relationships with.
She also wants restrictions eased for Victorians living near the border – for example allowing people within a larger radius to travel into SA, and over a greater distance.
Virginia Davis, who owns Bordertown’s Morning Loaf Bakery and Ruby Tuesday gifts and accessories shop, said she was very keen to see the state’s border open to regional Victorians as soon as possible.
“The sooner we can get back to normal, the better for everyone,” she said.
“I feel like it’s time for our economy to open up properly and get on with things. We’ve got to find a way to live with the virus, rather than keeping everything restricted.”
Naracoorte Lucindale Mayor Erika Vickery, also the president of the Limestone Coast Local Government Association, said locals would welcome the easing of border restrictions. She said this might include increasing the 40km buffer zone for border community members and reducing the frequency of their required COVID-19 tests.
Orthopaedic surgeon Tony Spriggins, based at Sportsmed in Stepney and Western Hospital in Henley Beach, usually travels to Mildura regularly to see patients, who also travel to Adelaide for treatment.
However those trips have been put on hold because of the border closure.
“It’s a really difficult situation,” Mr Spriggins said.
“Patients can’t travel into Melbourne to have elective surgery because elective surgery is closed in Melbourne for the time being and they’re also basically travelling into a hot spot and it’s very possible that they could pick up the virus in seeking medical care.”
Mr Spriggins said if Mildura was isolated from COVID-19 hot spots, travel restrictions could be eased to allow more health-related trips.
Renmark Paringa Mayor Neil Martinson said SA was in one of the best positions in Australia because of the way the pandemic so far.
“We’ve just tot to take the advice of SA Police and SA Health,” he said.
COVID-19 co-ordinator Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said authorities were “very pleased” to see Victoria’s patient numbers decline, but flagged no easing of border controls for at least a week.
“We have no capacity to monitor people’s movements or to be able to verify whether a person who says they are from regional Victoria has come from regional Victoria,” he said.
“So we need to think carefully about how to allow those low risk areas to come to South Australia with the confidence that we’re not increasing the risk to South Australians.”
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michelle.etheridge@news.com.au
Originally published as Coronavirus: Call for rethink on South Australia’s hard border closure as COVID-19 cases drop in regional Victoria