Victoria to reopen border with NSW from October 19

NSW residents will be able to travel into neighbouring Victoria without having to complete 14 day of quarantine — but there’s a catch.

NSW residents will be able to enter neighbouring Victoria without having to do 14 days of mandatory quarantine, in a welcome move by the state government.

From October 19, fully vaccinated people in NSW red zones — including Greater Sydney, Cessnock, Newcastle, Blue Mountains and Wollongong to name a few — will soon be able to enter Victoria without facing two weeks of quarantine.

They must, however, have a negative test result 72 hours before entering the state. Upon arrival, vaccinated travellers will need to isolate immediately, get tested again within 72 hours of entering Victoria, and stay isolated until a negative test result is received.

Those who are not fully vaccinated will still be able to enter the Garden State, but must have a negative result from a test taken 72 hours prior to entry, and will be required to quarantine for 14 days, plus get tested again on day 13.

Vaccinated NSW residents will be allowed into Victoria from October 19.

“People who are fully vaccinated have a right to reduced requirements because they present reduced risk,” Health Minister Martin Foley said.

“Victoria and NSW have been through so much over the last few months, and we’re pleased that more families will now be able to reunite and more people will be able to travel in a safe way.”

The announcement comes as Victoria recorded a second day of Covid-19 cases above 2000.

Mr Foley’s border reopening comments come as NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced NSW will reopen international borders on November 1, and scrap both hotel and home quarantine measures for vaccinated travellers.

In the massive change for international travel, equally for those wanting to go on holiday and returning residents, Mr Perrottet said NSW is “open for business”.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley announced the border changes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“From November 1st, those people returning to Australia who want to come back, who want to visit Australia and coming to Sydney, hotel quarantine will be a thing of the past,” he said.

“People coming into here, you’ll need to do a PCR test before you board the flight and you will need to show proof of your double vaccination.

“For double vaccinated people around the world, Sydney, New South Wales is open for business. We want people back. We are leading the nation out of the pandemic. Hotel quarantine, home quarantine is a thing of the past.”

Mr Perrottet said this was a “significant day” for NSW.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a raft of new changes for the state from Monday Picture: Adam Yip

Meanwhile, Queensland’s chief health officer has issued a grim warning to residents, claiming everyone will “end up infected with Covid” when the state reopens its borders.

Dr Jeannette Young’s comments came after she said there was a “real challenge” ahead for Queensland, but the impacts could be minimised by boosting vaccination rates.

“All of us are going to end up being infected with Covid, but if you’ve been vaccinated it’s highly unlikely you will be sick,” she said.

“We are all of us going to end up being infected with Covid, every single person in Queensland.”