EVERYONE entering South Australia from 4pm on Tuesday will be required to self-isolate for 14 days from their arrival, with the exception of “essential transport”.
The restrictions will apply to all South Australians, other Australians and other travellers entering the state.
The South Australian Government announced the move on Sunday, following a recommendation from the state’s Chief Public Health Officer, with the aim of slowing the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Premier Steven Marshall said the measures were being taken in the interest of public health.
“We do not make this decision lightly, but we have no choice,” Mr Marshall said.
Arrangements would be put in place to allow movement for people who live in towns close to the border, but an outbreak would change things.
“If there is any reason to believe there is an outbreak on the other immediate side of the border then that is something that will need to be curtailed,” Mr Mashall said.
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Exemptions for essential transport include:
- health and medical supplies
- health workers, health personnel and patients
- food and commercial supply chains (i.e. the carrying of goods)
- near border interactions
- travel of a relative/carer of a dependant individual
- emergency services
Other travellers (for example fly-in-fly-out workers in the mining industry or national level sporting teams) could be exempt from this provision provided they have approved disease control mechanisms in place, according to advice from the SA Health website.
The Northern Territory will also introduce strict border controls from 4pm on Tuesday.
Tasmania was the first state to introduce a two-week quarantine period for arrivals.
