Coronavirus Australia explainer: Full list of border restrictions amid COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney

Christmas plans on pause as Australia’s states and territories impose new restrictions amid growing NSW virus outbreak.

Border restrictions are coming into force across Australia once again, amid a growing COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Beaches region of NSW.

Travel plans for the Christmas holiday period have been thrown into chaos after the coronavirus cluster jumped from four to 17 yesterday.

Western Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory have all imposed new restrictions due to the outbreak.

Western Australia

In Western Australia, anyone arriving from NSW into WA from midnight tonight will be required to self-quarantine for two weeks. They will also need to be tested for COVID on day 11.

Following consultation with NSW Health, WA’s Chief Health Officer has provided updated advice to the WA Government on our controlled interstate border.

Due to the evolving situation in NSW, the State Government is taking immediate steps to further protect WA. pic.twitter.com/b140OghVUV

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) December 17, 2020

Anyone who has arrived in WA from NSW on December 11 before 12.01am tonight will be required to follow updated arrangements, which include:

• self-quarantine in a suitable premise as soon as possible
• present for a COVID-19 test as soon as possible
• return to self-quarantine until a negative test result is confirmed
• Undertake a further test on Day 11 after arrival in WA.

Queensland

The Northern Beaches area has been declared a hotspot from tomorrow morning at 1am. It means anyone who has been to the area must complete a mandatory two week hotel quarantine at their own expense if they want to enter Queensland.

People who travel into Queensland from a hotspot must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine at their own expense. This includes both interstate visitors and Queensland residents returning home. #covid19au

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) December 18, 2020

Queensland health has advised anyone:

• who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since last Friday and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches
• who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since last Friday and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after midnight tonight must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches
• who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since last Friday and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after 1am on Saturday 19 December 2020 must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they enter Queensland, and get tested.

Victoria

No one the Northern Beaches area in Sydney will be allowed to enter Victoria under a new travel permit system.

From midnight tonight, the traffic light permit system will be in place. Victoria’s department of Health and Human Services said:

• Anyone trying to enter Victoria from the Northern Beaches and other NSW exposure sites (red zone) from midnight tonight will not be permitted to enter.
• Anyone from NSW travelling from Greater Sydney (orange zone) is encouraged to get tested on arrival and self-quarantine until they receive a negative result.
  
• Those travelling from regional NSW (green zone) will be asked to monitor for symptoms.
  

Tasmania

Tasmania has declared anyone who travelled to the Northern Beaches local government area on or after last Friday will not be permitted to enter the state.

Anyone who is already in Tasmania and travelled to the Northern Beaches area must self-isolate immediately.

South Australia

Anyone who travels to South Australia from the locations listed on the NSW Health website at the specified times must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days.

They will be required to have a COVID-19 test on day 12 of quarantine.

Northern Territory

The Northern Beaches region was declared a hotspot by the Northern Territory government.

Anyone seeking to travel to the state from a hotspot must quarantine for two weeks.