States slam borders shut to Victoria, Trans Tasman bubble halted

Two states have moved swiftly to lock out Victoria as its fresh Covid crisis escalates while New Zealand has halted the Trans Tasman bubble.

Tasmania has joined South Australia in slamming its border shut to Victoria after the state’s fresh Covid crisis continued to escalate.

New Zealand was also quick to announce it would halt the Trans Tasman bubble with Victoria.

Under the changes announced by SA Premier Steven Marshall, level six restrictions will be implemented at midnight on Thursday, blocking Victorians from entering the state.

Returning South Australians will be permitted to return under level three restrictions, unless they’ve been in Greater Melbourne, Geelong or Bacchus Marsh.

Once they arrive, they will need Covid tests on days one, five and 13, and must self-quarantine until the first negative result is received.

Anyone returning from Greater Melbourne, Geelong or Bacchus Marsh will have to quarantine for 14 days and get tested on days one, five and 13.

States have slammed theirs borders shut to Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Steve Holland

The premier reassured people living in border communities a “border bubble” would be in place to allow those residents to travel within a 70km radius.

There would also be no changes to hard border arrangements with NSW and the ACT.

There have so far been 150 people identified in SA who were at a Victorian exposure site.

“We know there are worrying developments in those jurisdictions and we need to take actions,” Mr Marshall said.

Tasmania has moved to enforce a hard border with Victoria from midnight Thursday.

“This decision has been made with the intention (of) ensuring the protection of Tasmania of the risk posed by Covid, particularly the Delta strain,” deputy director of public health Scott McKeown said.

Anyone who has been in Victoria since July 8 will not be allowed to enter Tasmania unless approved as an essential traveller.

New Zealand’s Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said the Trans Tasman bubble with Victoria would be halted from Friday until at least Monday.

The MCG is a Covid exposure site. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

“We acknowledge the frustration and inconvenience that comes with any interruption to trans-Tasman travel, but given the ongoing level of uncertainty around transmission in Melbourne, this is the right action to take,” he said.

The ACT is also introducing stay at home measures for anyone who enters the territory from Victoria after midnight Thursday.

This measure will remain in place for the length of Victoria’s lockdown which, at this stage, is due to end at midnight on July 20.

The measures come as Victoria is sent into its fifth lockdown from midnight tonight.

Residents will only be permitted to leave their homes to shop for essential items, get tested or vaccinated, attend essential work, provide medical care or exercise.

Authorities are hoping the snap lockdown will help the state battle its recent outbreak as the Delta strain circulates within the community.

Queensland authorities have also warned their residents to “reconsider” their travel and “think about coming home” if they were currently in Victoria or NSW.

Travellers at Adelaide’s airport. Picture: Sam Wundke

Queensland’s chief health officer Jeannette Young told reporters she was “very closely” watching the situations in both states.

She said the state would maintain its current border position with NSW because there had so far been no Covid-19 fragments detected in sewage outside the Sydney lockdown area.

Despite that, Dr Young “really, really strongly” reiterated that people reconsidered travelling there.

“They could have an outbreak anywhere throughout the state,” she said.