CLOSED borders are almost a thing of the past after Victoria further eased its travel restrictions with NSW.
The Victorian Chief Health Officer’s update on Tuesday said there would be no more COVID-19 “red zones” in NSW under the state’s traffic light travel permit system.
The change means fully vaccinated travellers coming from anywhere in NSW, including Greater Sydney, will no longer need to undertake tests or quarantine to enter Victoria.
People who are not fully vaccinated and are coming to Victoria from a NSW orange zone – mainly the Greater Sydney region – will be required to isolate when they arrive in Victoria and get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours.
They will have to remain isolated until they receive a negative result.
The Victorian Government had previously announced that under the new border restrictions, which came into effect on Wednesday, vaccinated travellers who entered Victoria would have to return a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before entry.
Once they enter, they will have had to get tested and isolate until receiving a negative test result.
Children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for the vaccine can travel under a parent’s permit.
If the parent or guardian they are travelling with is not fully vaccinated, they will be required to follow the same requirements.
Travellers entering from NSW will be subject to the same COVID-19 restrictions as Victorians.
Previously, people returning from red zones had to be Victorian residents.
Health Minister Martin Foley last week said the state’s risk landscape had changed due to vaccinations ramping up in Victoria.
The state passed 90 per cent of first-dose vaccinations for the population aged 16 and over on Thursday.
People entering Victoria will still need to obtain a travel permit from Services Victoria.
