Victoria could need 28-days of no community transmission before SA border opens

While Melbourne residents are hours away from escaping harsh lockdown restrictions, one state still isn’t ready to welcome them with open arms.

A 28-day period of no community transmission in Victoria has been flagged as a possible requirement for South Australia to open its borders to the jurisdiction.

Following the state’s Transition Committee meeting on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Victorians self-isolating for 14 days upon arrival was a likely first step before allowing free travel between the two states.

“When a jurisdiction is able to locate the source of an infection, the level of concern is reduced dramatically, so we’re looking for Victoria to get through a period where there is no community transmission or if there is, they can identify that source,” he said.

Police at the Victoria and South Australia border checkpoint at Pinnaroo. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

“We require people to quarantine for 14 days so we’re satisfied they are not carrying the virus or infected, so it will be somewhere between 14 and 28 days depending on how Victoria is travelling.

“When you look at the incidents of Victoria and the troubles they’ve had, it may well be the case that SA Health will be looking at two incubation cycles (28 days) to be confident they got a lid on the virus.”

Mr Stevens said the state was providing exemptions to Victorians to quarantine in a supervised hotel.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Victorians self-isolating for 14 days upon arrival was a likely first step before allowing free travel between the two states. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

He said directions related to public gatherings and alcohol consumption were also discussed at the meeting but no decision was made to change the restrictions.

Currently, alcohol can be consumed at licenced venues while sitting down indoors, and standing consumption is only allowed outside.

There is also a one person per 2sq m density rule that applies.

“We are looking at what the level of risk is for SA, taking into account the effectiveness of our processes to properly manage returning Australians,” Mr Stevens said.

“There are multiple aspects to this that need to be considered as a whole. We can’t just look at one thing and make a move on that.”

For a second day in a row, Victoria recorded no new infections or deaths on Tuesday.

South Australia reported three on Monday who were all returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

The state has 12 active cases but all are repatriated Australians isolating in supervised medi-hotels.