South Australia has scrapped COVID-19 border restrictions for Western Australia and the Northern Territory but NSW remains locked out as it continues to battle a Delta variant outbreak.
The SA transition committee met on Thursday to consider border rules imposed after locally acquired virus cases emerged in NSW, Queensland, the NT and WA.
SA had imposed hard border closures for WA, NSW, the ACT, the NT and Queensland.
On Thursday, the Marshall government announced border bans will be removed for WA and the NT from Sunday for people travelling to SA.
“NSW remains closed. ACT remains closed,” Premier Steven Marshall said, unless a person gets a special exemption.
The decision on the ACT was made because of its “porous border” with NSW, which is still trying to get its outbreak under control after extending lockdown on Greater Sydney and surrounding regions by another week.
“We are obviously concerned about the Delta variant and in particular the current wave in NSW,” Mr Marshall said.
“We don’t want to take any unnecessary risks.”
The premier said he was confident NSW would soon get its outbreak under wraps despite recording 38 new local cases on Thursday.
SA has volunteered to trial home-based quarantine for returning overseas travellers and provide feedback to the other states and territories.
Mr Marshall said planning remained in the early stages and was focused on finding solutions commensurate with the risk.
“In the first instance, it’s about getting the technology right so that home-based quarantine can become a reality down the track as the risk reduces,” he said.
For Queensland, level six restrictions remain in place for the Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gold Coast, Logan, Redland, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset areas.
Level three restrictions, requiring three rounds of virus tests, will apply to people arriving from Townsville and the Big Red Bash in Birdsville, but the rest of Queensland is good to go.
Earlier this week, SA dropped testing requirements for travellers from Victoria and also eased a range of local virus measures.
The changes returned the state to a general density rule of three people to every four square metres.
Public and family gatherings increased to 200 people while drinking while standing up and dancing returned.
Mask-wearing rules and advisories were also dropped.
SA reported one new virus case on Thursday – a man in his 20s who is in hotel quarantine.
There were 16 active infections at last count, all in isolation.
Australian Associated Press