A week is a long time in the midst of a global pandemic, and the recent Covid-19 outbreak in Sydney has swung a wrecking ball into hopes that 2021 would arrive with a borderless Big Lap in place.
Indeed, hard borders are suddenly back in force across the country.
WA, which reinstated its hard border with New South Wales several days ago, has reacted to new locally acquired cases in Melbourne by closing its border to travellers from Victoria, as well. It has ordered anyone who has arrived from that state since December 21 to self-quarantine.
At the same time, Victoria will close its border to New South Wales as it works to contain the NSW-linked outbreak in Melbourne that has now grown to eight cases.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan told the ABC the decision was made on health advice in the wake of NSW recording 10 more cases today.
“Closing borders and putting in place restrictions is never an easy choice to make, and certainly not one we wanted to make and be announcing on a day that is supposed to be about celebrating,” she said.
South Australia will impose a hard border with New South Wales from tomorrow, with only essential travellers, returning South Australians, or those permanently relocating, being allowed to enter from NSW.
People transiting to SA via NSW will also have an exemption, provided they do not stop in NSW on the way.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said it was ‘troubling’ that the full extent of the spread of coronavirus in NSW was not yet known.
From midnight tonight, the NT will also require anyone arriving from Greater Metropolitan Sydney to go into mandatory quarantine. And the Territory Government said it was also watching the situation elsewhere in New South Wales and in metropolitan Melbourne closely.
Queensland has already deemed that travellers entering the state who have recently been in Greater Sydney must go into hotel quarantine. It says it is keeping a concerned eye on developments elsewhere.
“We’ll continue to follow the advice of our Chief Health Officer and will always act to keep Queenslanders safe,” said the state’s Health Minister, Yvette D’Ath.
We arrived home here in Tasmania at the beginning in December and have
Decided to stay home in 2021. This year was like playing Russian roulette
With covid 19 with border closures. Hopefully we will be able to continue our travels in 2022.
Maybe it’s about time for a serious all look at proving a decent all weather road link from SA to QLD say via Birdsville or Innaminka. At least it would provide an option other than via NT if NSW ever close their borders in the future.