South Australia brings down hard border with Greater Brisbane

The Queensland government’s swift action to contain a COVID-19 outbreak in Greater Brisbane has prompted South Australia to ease border restrictions with the region.

Having come into effect on Saturday, travellers from the restricted zones of Queensland (Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redland) are now permitted to enter South Australia.

However, those who have been in a restricted zone on or after 20 March 2021 must get tested as soon as possible and quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

Travellers from a restricted zone in Queensland are also required to get tested on day five and day 13 after their arrival in South Australia. There is no requirement for them to quarantine after receiving a negative result for their first test, unless they have symptoms.

Those travellers from a restricted zone must not attend a COVID Management Plan event for 14 days after their arrival, according to SA Health.

They also aren’t allowed to enter a high-risk setting for 14 days after their arrival, unless they meet requirements to be permitted (like urgent medical care or an end-of-life visit).

High-risk settings include disability and aged care or correctional facilities and an emergency department, intensive care unit, respiratory ward or oncology ward of a private or public hospital.

Travellers from a restricted zone who are currently in quarantine in South Australia will be able to leave quarantine after receiving a negative COVID-19 test result for the first test, unless they attended one of the locations identified on the Queensland Health website.

Those who have been at one of these locations must remain in quarantine for 14 days after their last exposure.

The end of the hard border between South Australia and Greater Brisbane comes after the Queensland government ended the region’s snap three-day lockdown on Thursday.

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