coronavirus,
For the first time in the pandemic, restrictions have been placed on travel from parts of NSW as the state grapples with a growing coronavirus cluster. As of midnight Sunday, residents returning from greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong must quarantine in Canberra, as another 15 cases were added to the northern beaches cluster on Monday. Here are your questions answered about the latest COVID-19 restrictions in the ACT. More than 30 local government areas across greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong have been identified in the list of impacted areas. That list can be found here. The entire Illawarra-Shoalhaven region was initially included in that list but has since been removed. Only the Wollongong LGA remains affected. Not at the moment. ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman said police could be sporadically checking permits. She was working with police to figure out exactly how it would run. “We are not planning to man the border 24 hours but we will have a presence … and people can expect that some people may be asked to present their declaration if they come from those regions,” she said. Dr Coleman said two things were different this time. Firstly, there was evidence of “significant community transmission” and seeding outside the northern beaches area. She was also concerned the cluster’s initial case has no identified source. “NSW are implementing these restrictions in these areas, so they are obviously concerned as well, so we need to mirror that,” she told reporters on Sunday. Dr Coleman has urged ACT residents against any travel to NSW, however there are only restrictions on greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong. That means Canberrans can go to the south coast and are currently not required to isolate when they return to the ACT. However, Dr Coleman has warned the quarantine zones might be expanded as the situation unfolds and advised Canberrans not to travel in the state if they didn’t need to. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has also urged Sydneysiders not to travel to the regions. Probably not. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told reporters on Sunday these restrictions would likely remain in place over Christmas and possibly into the new year. No. There is an exemption in the public health order for people transitting through Sydney airport and they don’t need to quarantine. No. If you have completed quarantine and travel directly to the ACT without stopping, Dr Coleman said you would not be required to quarantine. There is currently no evidence of virus transmission in the ACT, therefore Dr Coleman said masks were not necessary. She said people could wear masks in indoor areas where they couldn’t physically distance if they felt more comfortable to do so. There is never any certainty around changing coronavirus restrictions as Health manages the unfolding situation. Dr Coleman hoped the quarantine requirements would prevent the northern beaches cluster spreading into the ACT and further measures wouldn’t be needed. “I’m really hoping by putting in place this quarantine requirement we can prevent the seeding of cases here because we have quite open [restrictions] … if we did get a case there would be community transmission,” she said.
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For the first time in the pandemic, restrictions have been placed on travel from parts of NSW as the state grapples with a growing coronavirus cluster.
Here are your questions answered about the latest COVID-19 restrictions in the ACT.
What areas are affected by the quarantine requirements?
More than 30 local government areas across greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong have been identified in the list of impacted areas. That list can be found here.
The entire Illawarra-Shoalhaven region was initially included in that list but has since been removed. Only the Wollongong LGA remains affected.
Are there checkpoints at the ACT border to enforce restrictions?
Not at the moment. ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman said police could be sporadically checking permits.
She was working with police to figure out exactly how it would run.
“We are not planning to man the border 24 hours but we will have a presence … and people can expect that some people may be asked to present their declaration if they come from those regions,” she said.
There have been several COVID-19 clusters in Sydney and we have never had these restrictions before, what’s different?
Dr Coleman said two things were different this time. Firstly, there was evidence of “significant community transmission” and seeding outside the northern beaches area.
She was also concerned the cluster’s initial case has no identified source.
“NSW are implementing these restrictions in these areas, so they are obviously concerned as well, so we need to mirror that,” she told reporters on Sunday.
Can Canberrans visit other parts of regional NSW?
Dr Coleman has urged ACT residents against any travel to NSW, however there are only restrictions on greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
That means Canberrans can go to the south coast and are currently not required to isolate when they return to the ACT.
However, Dr Coleman has warned the quarantine zones might be expanded as the situation unfolds and advised Canberrans not to travel in the state if they didn’t need to.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has also urged Sydneysiders not to travel to the regions.
Could these restrictions be lifted before Christmas?
Probably not. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told reporters on Sunday these restrictions would likely remain in place over Christmas and possibly into the new year.
If I transit through Sydney Airport am I required to quarantine in Canberra?
No. There is an exemption in the public health order for people transitting through Sydney airport and they don’t need to quarantine.
I have just completed two-weeks quarantine in Sydney. Do I have to do it all over again in Canberra?
No. If you have completed quarantine and travel directly to the ACT without stopping, Dr Coleman said you would not be required to quarantine.
Should I be wearing a mask?
There is currently no evidence of virus transmission in the ACT, therefore Dr Coleman said masks were not necessary.
She said people could wear masks in indoor areas where they couldn’t physically distance if they felt more comfortable to do so.
Will more ACT restrictions be wound back?
There is never any certainty around changing coronavirus restrictions as Health manages the unfolding situation.
Dr Coleman hoped the quarantine requirements would prevent the northern beaches cluster spreading into the ACT and further measures wouldn’t be needed.
“I’m really hoping by putting in place this quarantine requirement we can prevent the seeding of cases here because we have quite open [restrictions] … if we did get a case there would be community transmission,” she said.
