Border restrictions: Residents forced to reapply for permits
From midnight on Tuesday residents living in these border communities will have their permits cancelled and be forced to reapply for permission to travel between states.
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Bordertown residents looking to enter New South Wales from Victoria will be forced to reapply for their travel permit with a new border zone to be set up along the Murray River from midnight on Tuesday.
Travel permits will be cancelled and the criteria for those looking to travel between the two states will also be tightened.
Residents will only be allowed to cross the border for work, education or to access medical care, supplies or health services, which will make it more difficult for people to obtain a permit.
“We’re strengthening the rules so the fewer people granted permits to enter NSW must now carry a copy of their permit and produce it when directed by enforcement officers,” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
The record cases of COVID-19 in Victoria has forced the NSW Government to further restrict entry to the state from Victoria, prompting the decision to erect the border zone.
If NSW residents travel beyond the border zone into Victoria, they will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days when they return.
The state’s chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant has repeatedly said individuals entering NSW from Victoria, particularly from Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, pose a risk of triggering an outbreak in NSW.
“The pandemic is not over and Victoria is seeing significant levels of community transmission in many areas of the sate. Tightening restrictions on the borders will further protect the health of NSW citizens,” Dr Chant said.
“I also want to encourage everyone to continue to come forward for testing. Early detection and diagnosis of cases in the community is going to be key for us in managing and responding to COVID-19.”
As part of the crackdown on entry conditions, critical service workers will be made to self-isolate when they’re not providing their critical services.
Students or staff attending boarding schools or universities will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days or return a negative test result before they can attend classes.
People will only be allowed to enter NSW for medical or hospital treatment if those services are not available in Victoria or cannot be accessed remotely.
Seasonal workers will be banned and any individual who accompanies a person with a permit, such as a dependent child, must also comply with any conditions on the permit, including self-isolating.
COVID safety plans must also be in place for people entering NSW for child access or care arrangements. The same rule applies for freight workers.
NSW recorded 20 news cases of COVID-19 on Monday, all linked to known clusters or returning travellers in hotel quarantine.
Victoria recorded 275 new cases, down on 363 the day before.
The tougher moves come as NSW students return to school for term three from Monday.
It’s understood border residents were able to access the Service NSW website on Monday to see if their address falls within the new restrictions.
Originally published as Border restrictions: Residents forced to reapply for permits