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Effective from 6pm today, anyone from Greater Melbourne will not be permitted to enter South Australia as the southern state responds to a growing outbreak of COVID-19 in the Victorian capital.
Returning South Australians will be permitted to cross the border after 6pm today, but they must complete two weeks of self-quarantine on arrival back home.
The new border restrictions come after Victoria reported six new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number of infections connected with this latest outbreak to 15.
In addition to the border closure, SA Premier Steven Marshall announced anyone who has returned from Greater Melbourne since 20 May will need to arrange a COVID-19 test and isolate until a negative result is received. They will also be required to get tested on days five and 13 from their arrival into SA.
Further, travellers from Bendigo into SA will also need to abide by new COVID-19 rules. While they are permitted to enter the state, they must get tested on days one, five and 13 on arrival into SA and isolate until a negative result is received.
"Australia is doing extraordinarily well in tackling the coronavirus compared to just about any jurisdiction in the world, so we've got to work together to make sure that we don't have any further outbreaks," SA Premier Marshall said.
"Our thoughts are with everybody in Victoria, particularly those in Melbourne."
SA's decision to slam the border shut makes it the only Australian state or territory to take such action thus far.
Western Australia currently requires all travellers arriving from Victoria to be tested for COVID-19 and isolate until a negative result is returned.
The Northern Territory is asking only those who have been to any Victorian Tier 1 public exposure sites to undertake 14 days of quarantine in their home or a suitable place on arrival. Those who have been to Tier 2 sites must get get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
The City of Whittlesea local government area has been declared a COVID-19 hotspot by the Queensland Government, meaning anyone who has been to that area and travelled to QLD must go into hotel quarantine.
New South Wales has asked people to postpone non-urgent travel to Victoria while the outbreak is investigated, and Tasmania requires anyone who has been to a venue of concern to isolate and call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to organise testing.
Updated at 5.44pm AEST on 26 May 2021.
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