Victoria downgrades ‘red zones’ for Queensland and parts of Sydney, as other states make border moves

More states have eased their respective travel restrictions in light of COVID-19, with Victoria the latest to announce changes as part of its new ‘traffic light’ system.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton announced the transition of Queensland’s ‘red zone’ local government areas (LGAs) to orange, allowing Victorians in those areas to return home if they want to.

The Greater Brisbane LGAs that have been downgraded are Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Redland, Logan, and Ipswich.

This means anyone who has been or is currently in Greater Brisbane wanting to travel to Victoria can now apply for a permit.

Travel from an orange zone requires people to self-isolate, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in isolation until you receive a negative result.

Travellers must also confirm they have not been in a currently listed red zone within the past 14 days, have not been in close contact with a coronavirus case and do not have any COVID-19 symptoms.

The Victorian government said exemption applications from the Greater Brisbane LGAs will no longer be required and will not be considered.

Victoria will also downgrade the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and all Greater Sydney LGAs except for Blacktown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, the Inner West, Liverpool, Parramatta, and Strathfield from red to orange from 6pm (AEDT) tonight.

Anyone who has been in the 10 remaining red-zone LGAs of Greater Sydney in the last 14 days other than for transit is not permitted to travel to Victoria without an exemption, exception or essential worker permit.

However, people from these LGAs who have already applied for an exemption application will not need to reapply.

Meanwhile, Western Australia is now permitting travel from Victoria, provided those who do decide to head west self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and submit to COVID-19 testing.

Yesterday, South Australia began welcoming travellers from Greater Brisbane without requiring them to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. However, those who arrive before Thursday 21 January must submit to a COVID-19 test on days one, five and 12.

Those travelling to South Australia from Greater Brisbane via plane from a low community transmission zone are permitted to transit through Brisbane Airport for no longer than two hours and must wear a face mask for the entirety of the time they are in transit.

Featured image source: iStock/Daria Nipot