Border checkpoint ‘chaos’
Rush to beat tightened restrictions
IT WAS “chaos” at the NSW and Victoria border as returning residents rushed to enter the state before the latest wave of COVID-19 restrictions came into force.
Since 12.01am on Friday anyone entering NSW from Victoria is required to selfisolate in a hotel for two weeks and, unless they live in border towns, will no longer be able to return by road.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton said it was “chaotic” at the border, and she held grave concerns about the impact that new restrictions would have on border residents living in regional NSW but outside the border bubble.
“Most of the medical services are over the other side (in Victoria), and if you live in Moama, say, your closest hospital is over 70km away in Deniliquin,” she said. “It’s a huge dilemma for people who have a pre-existing condition and travel into Victoria frequently for medical care.”
The rules around who can get a border exemption have tightened in a bid to restrict who can enter NSW from the virus-riddled state without having to go into mandatory hotel quarantine.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian this week declared that anyone crossing the southern border would be subject to two weeks of mandatory quarantine in one of the state’s “health hotels”.
Individuals will have to foot the $3000 bill.
As part of the restrictions people – unless they live within the border zones – will not be able to access NSW by road, making Sydney airport the only entry point.
There are exceptions. For instance, critical workers will not have to quarantine but it is up to their employer to prove the worker is an essential employee.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said this would result in a “very, very small category of exemptions”.
Examples of critical workers include those in mining, energy or manufacturing, defence force personnel and those providing medical care.
The State Government said there was no change to existing arrangements for border communities.
But Ms Dalton said she believed there needed to be a more suitable exemption system for people who must travel across the border every day for work and may live outside the border zone.
“I understand we need these harsher rules, but they’re really hurting the people of NSW,” she said.
“But we obviously don’t want COVID-19 in our areas.”
Ms Dalton said rules around the permit system were constantly changing and causing confusion.
A permit system is in place for residents who frequently cross the border for work, study or healthcare. But if they travel beyond the border zones they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks.
Murray River Council Mayor Chris Bilkey agreed it was a challenging time for residents, particularly if they travelled regularly for medical care, but that the restrictions were necessary.
NSW Health confirmed anyone travelling to Victoria from outside the border bubble would need to apply for an exemption and self-isolate in a hotel upon their return.
Eleven new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in NSW on Friday.