SA border to stay open to NSW but visitors coming from Sydney’s northern beaches must isolate

South Australia has announced new requirements for some NSW residents entering the state, effective immediately, but will keep its border open.

South Australia will not close its border to NSW but has introduced restrictions for people arriving from Sydney, the state’s chief health officer Nicola Spurrier announced on Friday.

Travellers coming into SA who have visited Sydney’s northern beaches must quarantine at home but will still be allowed to enter.

However, anybody coming into the state who visited either the Avalon RSL or Avalon Bowlo must enter a medi hotel, which is managed by SA Police and protective security officers.

Professor Spurrier addressed media on Friday to explain the border decision.

“The cluster in (Sydney’s) Avalon area looks as though it is a very recent cluster, which is a very good thing,” she said.

South Australia will keep its border to NSW open. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

“It seems to very localised at the moment. We have made a decision at this point not to close our borders I think that’s very important for people to know.

“We have Christmas coming up and families are wanting to see each other. The epidemiological basis for our decision is that it’s been picked up very early (by NSW contact tracers).”

Professor Spurrier said that the northern beaches was considered a high community transmission zone.

“This means anybody who has been in that area from the 11th of December up until now or anybody coming into the state from those areas will need to have 14 days of quarantine in people’s homes and we will also be needing to test those people,” she said.

“If anybody comes into South Australia who has been to those two venues at those times stimulated by NSW Health will be required they go into medi hotels.”

Originally published as SA border to stay open to NSW but visitors coming from Sydney’s northern beaches must isolate