New South Wales residents will be allowed to travel to South Australia from midnight on Wednesday as long as there are no new coronavirus cases recorded in the community.
SA Premier Steven Marshall made the announcement following the state’s Transition Committee meeting on Tuesday – despite concerns an infectious taxi driver may have spread the virus across Sydney.
‘They (the committee) were furnished with all necessary information from NSW with regards to what had occurred over the weekend,’ Mr Marshall said.
The premier said the border would open from midnight on Wednesday as long as there is no community transmission of COVID-19 in NSW from Tuesday morning to midnight.
South Australia will open its border to New South Wales from midnight on Wednesday. Premier Steven Marshall made the announcement on Tuesday (pictured)
The premier said the border would open from midnight on Wednesday as long as there is no community transmission of COVID-19 in NSW from Tuesday morning to midnight. Pictured: Constable Ashleigh Broadbent is seen near the SA border 5kms east of Pinnaroo, South Australia, in March
‘So that means people from NSW wanting to come into SA from Thursday onward will be able to do that without doing the 14 days of self-isolation,’ he said.
‘This will be massive relief for people dislocated from family, friends and business opportunities.
‘We know this has been a massive burden on the business community, families and individuals but we did this to keep SA safe.
‘Our borders have been the frontline in our defence here in SA, they have served us well.’
Mr Marshall said it was time to open to NSW because of the ‘reduced risk’.
Travellers who enter quarantine in SA before Thursday will be required to complete the full 14-day isolation period.
NSW Health is urgently contacting anyone who took trips with a Silver Service taxi driver who tested positive on Saturday and worked in Sydney’s west and southwest.
Anyone who rode in his taxi between September 8 and 18 should monitor for symptoms, isolate for 14 days and get tested for coronavirus.
Premier Marshall said: ‘We’ve assessed the risk associated with that taxi driver and also the response that NSW Health has put into place and we’re satisfied that’s a risk that can be managed.’
More to come
Mr Marshall said the eased border restrictions would be a massive relief for people dislocated from family. Pictured: Residents in face masks walk through Rundle Mall in Adelaide
Source: Daily Mail AU
