As Victoria records another day of double donuts (no cases, no deaths) and Australia records no cases across the entire country (woohoo!) state governments are feeling increased pressure to start opening up more borders.
Today, the Northern Territory Government has marked regional Victoria as no longer being a ‘hot-spot’, allowing them entry into the state with no mandatory quarantine. This includes regional visitors who fly through Melbourne airport, as long as no time is spent in metro Melbourne outside the airport.
Although metro Melbourne is still on the no-go list, it’s some positive news for Victorians overall. South Australia has also relaxed its stance slightly, allowing regional Victorians to pass through the state on their way to the NT.
The South Australian Government website confirmed people from regional Victoria could travel through South Australia to reach another state, "provided they will be allowed entry into that state on arrival".
The NT is hoping to relax it’s borders to the rest of Victoria by Christmas.
NSW says it will hopefully be only weeks until the VIC/NSW border is removed.
In the meantime, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has today announced that it will likely be ‘weeks, not months’ before the NSW/VIC border is removed. The decision will likely be made next week, when Victoria starts to see Covid test results from eased restrictions.
If there isn't a spike in locally acquired coronavirus cases in the 14 days following the loosened restrictions, Ms Berejilkian said she would consider opening the border.
After being re-elected over the weekend, QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will be allowing visitors to the sunshine state from the entire country, except for those from Victoria and Greater Sydney. It was indicated that Victoria’s status will be further reviewed at the end of November.
WA have recently announced their ‘hard border’ will soften into a ‘controlled border’, allowing visitors from most states. Visitors from Greater Sydney and Victoria, however, will still need to undergo two weeks quarantine.
WA have made significant changes to their border restrictions.
The South Australian government has indicated that they will not soften their borders to Victorians (except to allow interstate travel through the state) until four weeks of no community transmission have been recorded.
Tasmania has said that they are interested in re-opening to Victoria, however they will wait until metro Melbourne is under control before allowing visitors from the entire state.
Currently, Melbourne’s 14-day average is sitting at 1.9after several days of no cases, and regional Victoria is a big fat zero. The federal government has said that the country is well on the way to re-opening all borders for Christmas.
Fingers crossed! Where do you want to visit first?
Jenna Rank
Jenna has visited over 50 countries across the world, and hopes to visit 100 by 2025
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