As we all know by now, Greater Brisbane has been thrown into a three-day lockdown following the news of four community cases of coronavirus on Sunday night, with eight new cases identified overnight.
Being as it comes just before Easter — the Northern Beaches can empathise — travel plans are changing at a rapid rate for those who planned to visit Queensland.
Here’s how each state and territory has responded to the latest lockdown in relation to their borders:
Western Australia
Western Australia, the state that seems most on top of each lockdown, declared a hard border yesterday, that was officially put in place at midnight. According to WA Premier, Mark McGowan, Queensland is now a “medium risk”.
What does that mean? Travel from Queensland to WA is no longer permitted, except for exempt travellers — certain government officials, people responsible for freight, compassionate reasons, and more.
Self-quarantine has been put in place for exempt travellers who arrived since midnight last night, as well as anyone who went to the exposure sites in Queensland.
Victoria
Victoria is a state that truly knows the pains of lockdown. Victoria has declared Greater Brisbane a ‘red zone’ — meaning Victorians returning home will need a permit. The majority of those coming back will need to self-quarantine immediately upon arrival.
New South Wales
Currently, the border remains open but NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged people not to travel to the state.
“Definitely don’t go to Greater Brisbane, but if I had plans [to go anywhere in Queensland], if it were me, I would postpone them,” Berejiklian told 2GB.
“People shouldn’t be disappointed if they go to Queensland and then there are further lockdowns, we can’t predict that.”
NSW Health has ordered anyone in the state who has been in Greater Brisbane over the last nine days to stay home for three days. Only essential reasons are allowed for people to break lockdown, including gathering food and supplies, exercise, work and medical care.
South Australia
South Australia is another state that has imposed a hard border. Only South Australians, essential workers or people relocating are allowed to enter from Greater Brisbane. 14 days of quarantine and COVID-19 tests are required.
Tasmania
Tasmania has declared five local government areas in Queensland — Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the Redlands — as high risk, effective immediately. Anyone entering from those areas will be placed in hotel quarantine for two weeks.
Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health, said in a statement:Â “Any affected travellers, including returning Tasmanians, will need to apply to the Deputy State Controller to enter the state via the G2G PASS system.”
Northern Territory
Mandatory quarantine is what has greeted travellers from Queensland hot spots. The Northern Territory has declared six hotspots — Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Redland City, Moreton Bay and Toowoomba.
ACT
The ACT has also declared Greater Brisbane a hotspot, and anyone who has been in the council areas of Brisbane or Moreton Bay since March 11 must immediately self-isolate, and get tested.
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