Just a week before Christmas, state and territory leaders have rushed to impose new travel restrictions on travellers from Sydney’s northern beaches, where a mystery coronavirus cluster has grown to 17 cases.
The outbreak jumped from four to 17 on Thursday, with the source of the infections still unknown to authorities. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday morning warned that she was “bracing for more cases today, no doubt about that”.
The shock spike in cases has prompted new rules for Sydneysiders and NSW residents hoping to travel interstate for the holidays. Here’s what you need to know.
Victoria
Anyone already in Victoria who has been in the northern beaches on or since 11 December should isolate and get tested, health authorities said.
For those hoping to travel to Victoria, anyone who has been in the northern beaches from that date and arrives in Victoria after midnight on 17 December must quarantine in their home for 14 days from their last visit to the hotspot.
Queensland
Anyone currently in Queensland who visited the northern beaches after 11 December should get tested and quarantine in their home for 14 days from when they were last in the area.
Those arriving in Queensland on Friday after visiting the northern beaches after 11 December must get tested and quarantine in their accommodation for 14 days.
After 1am on 19 December anyone who has been in the northern beaches will have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine at their own expense.
The Australian Capital Territory
Canberrans have been advised not to travel to the northern beaches.
Anyone who has visited the area since the 11 December needs to get tested and isolate, health authorities said.
Western Australia
The West Australian government has directed anyone arriving from NSW to self-quarantine for 14 days and get tested on day 11.
The Northern Territory
Anyone who has been in the northern beaches area hoping to travel to the Northern Territory will have to undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine in Alice Springs or Darwin.
Tasmania
Health authorities have designated the Northern Beaches Local Government Area a high-risk region, barring any travellers who have passed through there since 11 December from entering Tasmania unless they are an essential traveller.
Anyone already in Tasmania who was in the area from that date are asked to self-isolate immediately and get tested.
South Australia
People in South Australia who have recently been to the northern beaches must immediately undertake a COVID-19 test and self-isolate.
