Western Australia BANS anyone from New South Wales entering the state in dramatic escalation of covid restrictions amid Sydney outbreak
Western Australia has banned anyone from New South Wales entering the state as COVID-19 infections linked to an outbreak in Sydney skyrocketed to 41 cases.
All NSW residents are banned from entering WA from 12am on Sunday, regardless if they already booked flights, due to the reintroduction of a hard border.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said NSW residents arriving in his state from Sunday would be 'put on a plane and sent back'.
'If they (NSW residents) come in before midnight, they need to go into self-quarantine and be tested - that's a given,' Mr McGowan said.
'If they come after midnight, if they're coming tomorrow, my advice to people from NSW would be not to come.
'You could very easily, unless you're exempt, be put on a plane and sent back.'
WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured left) announced on Saturday that all NSW residents will be banned from entering his state from 12am on Sunday, dashing all hopes of family reunions for Christmas, New Years and even in January next year
Members of the public queue outside a Covid-19 testing centre at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth on Friday. Those who arrive before Sunday are required to be tested and go into a mandatory 14-day quarantine
Mr McGowan said the hard border between WA and NSW will remain in place indefinitely.
'Right now, I don't know how long the hard border with NSW will be up for,' he said.
'We hope it's only for a short period – and we can reassess our border controls when the health advice says it is safe to do so.
'Our community has been COVID-free for 252 days now. I want to keep it that way.'
NSW residents who arrived in the state on Saturday are required to be tested and self-isolate for 14 days, which has already destroyed Christmas plans for many.
Now, the hard border has completely dashed hopes of more family reunions going into the New Year.
Mr McGowan said said he understands the hard border will 'throw Christmas and reunion plans into disarray, if that hadn't happened already'.
A plane takes off at Sydney Airport. Mr McGowan said NSW residents arriving in his state from Sunday would be 'put on a plane and sent back'
A man receives a COVID-19 test at a drive through testing station at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Saturday. NSW currently has 41 active cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, most of which are located to a cluster in Sydney's Northern Beaches
'I wish I didn't have to be making this announcement. This has been a difficult decision to make, especially given the time of year,' Mr McGowan said.
'But as premier, I have a responsibility for every Western Australian and I need to do what is right to keep our State safe and strong.
'The risk of a case coming into WA, spreading and potentially leading to new restrictions being imposed over Christmas for Western Australians – is just too high.'
NSW currently has 41 active cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, most of which are located to a cluster in Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Of the 38 cases in the Avalon cluster, 15 cases are linked to the Avalon RSL, 23 cases are linked to the Avalon Bowling Club, and several cases attended both venues.
Another two new locally acquired cases in the Northern Beaches are still under investigation while one was a NSW resident was diagnosed in Queensland.
A staff member takes a sample at a drive-through clinic at Avalon Beach on Saturday
Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have all banned anyone who visited the Northern Beaches from December 11 from entering their state or territory
Mr McGowan said the decision to reintroduce the border is based on 'the latest health advice'.
'Our Acting Chief Health Officer has recommended that New South Wales now move from being a 'low risk' state to a 'medium risk' state,' he said.
'Our response has been reasonable given the circumstances. And these are extraordinary circumstances.'
He also urged WA residents not to travel to NSW as the 'the situation there is extremely concerning'.
Only exempt people from NSW can enter WA, which includes senior Government Officials, military personnel, members of Commonwealth Parliament, people carrying out functions under law, truck drivers, anyone given approval by the State Emergency Coordinator or an authorised officer and on compassionate grounds.
WA is the first state to impose a hard border on NSW amid the current outbreak.
Pictured: Cars drive past a COVID-19 alert sign on Mona Vale road at Belrose on Sydney's northern beaches, Saturday, December 19, 2020
TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS FOR NSW RESIDENTS
Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have all banned anyone who visited the Northern Beaches from December 11 from entering their state or territory.
On top of the Northern Beaches ban, Victoria now has a 'traffic light' permit system for all NSW residents wishing to enter the state.
People from regional NSW are considered to be in a 'green zone' and come and go as they please.
People from the greater Sydney area are considered to be in an 'orange zone' and can freely enter Victoria but are advised to be tested and isolate while they wait for a result.
Meanwhile, those in red hotspots like the Northern Beaches Council have been completely banned from entering Victoria from Saturday.
Those who visited the Northern Beaches from December 11 who are already in Victoria are required to head into 14-day mandatory quarantine.
NSW residents must fill out an online application to get a permit to enter Victoria.
Like WA, the Victorian government is also reportedly considering a hard border with NSW but has not formally commented on the matter yet.
Sydneysiders trying to depart from the Domestic Airport Terminal on Friday. Like WA, the Victorian Government is also reportedly considering a hard border with NSW but has not formally commented on the matter yet
After more than four months of lockdown, the Victorian Government is reportedly considering a hard border with NSW but has not formally commented on the matter yet. Pictured: Premier Daniel Andrews
Cutting short her beach holiday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stressed on Friday that Queensland's borders would remain open to other travellers
Queensland has banned all NSW residents who have visited the Sydney's Northern Beaches since December 11 from entering the state.
Only Queensland residents who visited the Northern Beaches can enter and will have to quarantine for 14 days upon entry.
Cutting short her beach holiday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk stressed on Friday that Queensland's borders would remain open to other travellers.
'I just want to give people that sense of security, in terms of we are following practices that other states and territories are also at this stage,' she told reporters.
'So I just want to alleviate people's concerns there.'
Tasmania has banned all people who have visited NSW from December 11 from entering the state. Those who visited the beaches but are already in the state are required to be tested and isolate immediately.
From midnight on Saturday, eveyone who enters Tasmania from the Greater Sydney area will be required to isolate for 14 days.
Pictured: A COVID-19 digital sign is seen while a person walks a dog on Manly beachfront on December 19, 2020 in Sydney
Pictured: Surfers enter the water at Manly Beach on December 19, 2020 in Sydney