State’s border restrictions, testing requirements to stay as NSW cases surge past 1300

One state won’t budge on its tough rules for interstate travellers after a Covid case surge in NSW.

South Australia's border restrictions with the east coast are expected to be in place “for some time” as daily Covid-19 cases continue to surge in NSW.

Travellers from NSW, the ACT and Victoria need to return a negative coronavirus test 72 hours before their arrival and need to be retested once they arrive.

They must remain isolated until they get their negative result and will need to be retested on day six of their stay.

Those requirements will remain in place for a little while, according to Premier Steven Marshall.

“We’ve seen a very significant increase in the infection numbers in NSW from 100 or so to today more than 1300 new infections,” he said.

“I can’t see us removing that testing requirement anytime soon.”

Premier Steven Marshall said the current testing requirements for travellers from NSW, the ACT and Victoria will remain in place “for some time”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

He denied claims the rules were getting stricter, but said restrictions could be tightened if they were necessary.

“We can’t see that being very likely at this stage but I also can’t see it being very likely for the testing requirements to be removed any time soon,” Mr Marshall said.

“At this stage, we have been very fortunate to put those speed bumps in the way of the Omicron variant as quickly as possible and (chief public health officer) Nicola Spurrier is satisfied that the current arrangements are fine.”

Since the first few cases of Omicron were detected on the east coast earlier this month, Mr Marshall has long claimed authorities were “very concerned” about the variant because there was little information about it.

Despite that concern, he said the borders would remain open to all jurisdictions.

South Australia recorded 26 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday.

SA recorded 26 new cases on Wednesday, while NSW recorded 1360. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Originally published as State’s border restrictions, testing requirements to stay as NSW cases surge past 1300