NSW is set to enforce tougher coronavirus border restrictions for people looking to enter the state from Victoria.
From midnight on Tuesday, a border zone will be set up along the Murray River and criteria for cross-border travel will be tightened.
All current travel permits will be cancelled and residents in the border zone who wish to move between the states will have to reapply.
Travel will only be allowed for work, education or for medical care, supplies or health services.
"The growing rates of community transmission in Victoria have us on high alert," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
He said the new protocols will make it harder to obtain a permit and make it easier for the government to cancel them.
If NSW residents travel beyond the border zone into Victoria, they will be forced to self-isolate for two weeks when they return.
Border residents will be able to from Monday afternoon check online to see if their address falls within the new restrictions.
Among the changed permit requirements, staff or students of boarding schools or universities must self-isolate for two weeks and obtain a negative swab before attending school.
Seasonal workers from Victoria are also banned from entering NSW.
NSW recorded 18 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, while Victoria recorded three deaths and 363 new cases on Sunday.
The tougher moves come as NSW students return to school from Monday.
Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said 3300 extra services added to the state's public transport network in June would continue as about 200,000 NSW students return to the classroom.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said people entering NSW from Victoria, in particular greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, pose a risk of increasing COVID-19 in NSW.
“The pandemic is not over and Victoria is seeing significant levels of community transmission in many areas of the State. Tightening restrictions on the borders will further protect the health of NSW citizens,” Dr Chant said.
“I also want to encourage everyone to continue to come forward for testing. Early detection and diagnosis of cases in the community is going to be key for us in managing and responding to COVID-19.”
The conditions imposed on permits under the order are being tightened. The revised order will:
- require COVID Safety Plans for people entering NSW for child access or care arrangements, and freight workers
- require other critical service workers to self-isolate when not providing their critical services
- require people attending boarding school or universities as either staff or students to self-isolate for 14 days and obtain a negative swab before attending school
- restrict entry for medical or hospital services to only be allowed where those services are not available in Victoria or cannot be accessed remotely
- prohibit seasonal workers coming from Victoria into NSW
- require any person who accompanies a person with a permit such as a dependent child to also comply with any conditions on the permit, including self-isolating.
On Monday, 20 July from 2pm, border residents can check service.nsw.gov.au to determine if their address falls within the newly established border restrictions.
