coronavirus,
Rising coronavirus cases in NSW have ruined Christmas plans for many families, and threaten to throw the holiday season into disarray for scores more. All states and territories have imposed border restrictions on greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast residents as NSW grapples with a growing caseload. Here are the answers to your questions about the latest COVID-19 restrictions in the ACT. More questions are answered in this article. Unfortunately it’s up to the operator. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says because restrictions prevent operators from actually providing the service they offer, the normal consumer guarantees don’t apply. That means it’s up to individual organisations or business owners to determine whether they will provide any refund or credit. The ACCC say people should check the terms and conditions and if it didn’t mention COVID-19 restrictions, they may be eligible for a refund under frustration of contract, and should raise that with the business. If a flight is cancelled due to coronavirus, the ACCC says most people should get a credit or refund. If you were told you would receive a refund, the airline cannot later deny that. They can also not change terms and conditions after you purchased the ticket. As every situation is different, the best thing to do is contact the business directly. It is unlikely you can get travel insurance to cover COVID-19 since it was declared a worldwide pandemic in March. Some travel insurance policies will cover pandemics but this would not apply if you book after coronavirus became widely known about. It’s best to check with your insurer to find out exactly what will and won’t be covered. Queensland: The state has imposed a hard border with residents from NSW hotspots. That means if you have been in greater Sydney, the Central Coast or Wollongong you must quarantine. You are required to apply for a border pass to enter. Victoria: ACT residents can go to Victoria but must apply for a permit. Greater Sydney and the Central Coast are “red zones” and require an exemption to enter but the rest of regional NSW is a “green zone”. NSW: Any ACT residents returning from greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong must isolate for 14 days when they enter Canberra. Travel in all other parts of NSW is unrestricted but authorities warn the COVID-affected areas could expand. South Australia: Canberrans can travel to SA but must apply for a permit and must not have been in the greater Sydney region since December 11 or the Central Coast and Wollongong area since December 20, or you will need to quarantine. Western Australia: WA does not permit any travel from NSW. That means ACT residents can go to WA but must not have been in NSW for 14 days before arrival, including Canberra’s surrounding region. Tasmania: ACT residents can travel to Tasmania but must apply for a permit. Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong have been classed as high-risk and so residents who have been in those areas for 14 days prior to travel must isolate. Northern Territory: Travel to the NT is allowed but you must not have been in a COVID-19 hotspot, which includes greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong for 14 days prior to travel. You must also apply for a permit. Thirty-five local government areas in NSW have been identified as COVID-affected areas. That list can be found here. ACT residents have been told not to travel to those areas. If they do, they will be required to quarantine upon return. People from these areas should not be travelling to the ACT. As of 11.59pm Sunday, anyone entering the ACT from greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast must enter 14 days isolation. That requirement is not in place in the NSW region surrounding Canberra, however Sydney residents have been urged not to travel regionally as authorities get the cluster under control. Northern beaches residents are in lockdown and cannot travel. If you live in Queanbeyan or Jerrabomberra and have been in a COVID-19 hotspot since Sunday, or the northern beaches since December 11, you cannot enter the ACT unless transiting through without stops, without going into quarantine. Yes. The public health order requires anyone returning from a coronavirus affected area since Sunday midnight 14 days isolation in Canberra regardless of a negative test result. If you have been to the northern beaches since December 11 you must also isolate regardless of a negative test. READ MORE:
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Rising coronavirus cases in NSW have ruined Christmas plans for many families, and threaten to throw the holiday season into disarray for scores more.
All states and territories have imposed border restrictions on greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast residents as NSW grapples with a growing caseload.
Can I get a refund on my accommodation or flights?
Unfortunately it’s up to the operator. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says because restrictions prevent operators from actually providing the service they offer, the normal consumer guarantees don’t apply.
That means it’s up to individual organisations or business owners to determine whether they will provide any refund or credit.
The ACCC say people should check the terms and conditions and if it didn’t mention COVID-19 restrictions, they may be eligible for a refund under frustration of contract, and should raise that with the business.
If a flight is cancelled due to coronavirus, the ACCC says most people should get a credit or refund.
If you were told you would receive a refund, the airline cannot later deny that. They can also not change terms and conditions after you purchased the ticket.
As every situation is different, the best thing to do is contact the business directly.
Does travel insurance cover COVID-19?
It is unlikely you can get travel insurance to cover COVID-19 since it was declared a worldwide pandemic in March.
Some travel insurance policies will cover pandemics but this would not apply if you book after coronavirus became widely known about.
It’s best to check with your insurer to find out exactly what will and won’t be covered.
Queensland: The state has imposed a hard border with residents from NSW hotspots. That means if you have been in greater Sydney, the Central Coast or Wollongong you must quarantine. You are required to apply for a border pass to enter.
Victoria: ACT residents can go to Victoria but must apply for a permit. Greater Sydney and the Central Coast are “red zones” and require an exemption to enter but the rest of regional NSW is a “green zone”.
NSW: Any ACT residents returning from greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong must isolate for 14 days when they enter Canberra. Travel in all other parts of NSW is unrestricted but authorities warn the COVID-affected areas could expand.
South Australia: Canberrans can travel to SA but must apply for a permit and must not have been in the greater Sydney region since December 11 or the Central Coast and Wollongong area since December 20, or you will need to quarantine.
Western Australia: WA does not permit any travel from NSW. That means ACT residents can go to WA but must not have been in NSW for 14 days before arrival, including Canberra’s surrounding region.
Tasmania: ACT residents can travel to Tasmania but must apply for a permit. Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong have been classed as high-risk and so residents who have been in those areas for 14 days prior to travel must isolate.
Northern Territory: Travel to the NT is allowed but you must not have been in a COVID-19 hotspot, which includes greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong for 14 days prior to travel. You must also apply for a permit.
Thirty-five local government areas in NSW have been identified as COVID-affected areas. That list can be found here.
ACT residents have been told not to travel to those areas. If they do, they will be required to quarantine upon return.
People from these areas should not be travelling to the ACT.
What do the Canberra quarantine rules mean for residents in Queanbeyan and surrounds?
As of 11.59pm Sunday, anyone entering the ACT from greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast must enter 14 days isolation.
That requirement is not in place in the NSW region surrounding Canberra, however Sydney residents have been urged not to travel regionally as authorities get the cluster under control. Northern beaches residents are in lockdown and cannot travel.
If you live in Queanbeyan or Jerrabomberra and have been in a COVID-19 hotspot since Sunday, or the northern beaches since December 11, you cannot enter the ACT unless transiting through without stops, without going into quarantine.
I tested negative to COVID-19 before coming to Canberra from a hotspot, do I still need to isolate?
Yes. The public health order requires anyone returning from a coronavirus affected area since Sunday midnight 14 days isolation in Canberra regardless of a negative test result.
If you have been to the northern beaches since December 11 you must also isolate regardless of a negative test.
