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Victoria border restrictions: South Australia reopen date not set

A checkpoint on the Victorian side of the South Australian border has closed, but the government isn’t committing to a full December 1 reopening.

South Australian border checkpoints, in towns such as Pinnaroo, were on track to come down on December 1, but it’s not yet clear if restrictions will apply entering Victoria. Picture: Tait Schmaal
South Australian border checkpoints, in towns such as Pinnaroo, were on track to come down on December 1, but it’s not yet clear if restrictions will apply entering Victoria. Picture: Tait Schmaal

The Victorian Government will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation in South Australia before committing to a full border reopening.

South Australia remains on track to lift its border restrictions with Victoria on December 1 as previously planned.

But despite hopes of free movement in both directions from next Tuesday, a government spokesperson provided a cautious response when asked if that would happen.

“We will continue to monitor the situation in South Australia, and we will be guided by the expert public health advice on our next steps to reopening the border,” the spokesperson said.

As it stands permits, available on the Service Victoria website, are required to enter Victoria from South Australia unless an exemption applies.

The permit excludes people who have been to a “red zone” location from crossing the border.

Those in the “orange zone”, currently all of metropolitan Adelaide, are able to get a permit but are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 test.

“Green zone” visitors, currently all of regional South Australia, can get a permit without a test request.

Police were this week seen packing up a checkpoint site on the Victorian side of the border west of Mildura on the Sturt Highway.

However, motorists who enter the state could still face “spot checks”.

“The checkpoint on the Victorian side has closed but Victoria Police will continue to monitor and enforce the permit system through spot checks and DHHS Authorised Officers are meeting flights at airports,” the spokesperson said.

Under the permit system, people who live in the 70km cross-border bubble can use existing permits issued by South Australia or their drivers licence to cross the border.

Those receiving or providing emergency medical care, providing or receiving emergency services or residing on a property that extends across both South Australia and Victoria are exempt from the permit requirement.

People who have visited a high-risk exposure site are not allowed to visit Victoria unless an exemption is granted by the Victorian chief health officer.

South Australian authorities on Thursday played down concerns the government was preparing to enforce another lightning lockdown, after a school student tested positive Wednesday.

Check out more stories at The Mildura News here

Contact reporter Michael DiFabrizio

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/mildura/victoria-border-restrictions-south-australia-reopen-date-not-set/news-story/c7f6784a5d3f4df49dcb5f4237e3db93