South Australia is putting a pin in its plans to re-open borders with NSW and the ACT on 20 July, in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Victoria, and emerging community transmission in NSW and the ACT.
Premier Steve Marshall says South Australia will be looking at today’s infection stats from NSW and ACT at the state’s transition committee meeting, and if it is not safe to lift the border restrictions “…then we won’t be doing so.”
“Businesses who had only re-opened four or five weeks ago already shut down, putting tens of thousands of people back onto the unemployment queues. We don’t want to see that happen in South Australia. We have worked really well as a state to get to the point that we are and we don’t want to go backwards.,” Premier Marshall said.
Of particular interest is the Crossroads Hotel cluster in Casula NSW, and the Premier said SA officials would be watching those developments.
“We just have to see if there is a significant escalation between now and 20 July. I think that that date will come under some further consideration.”
Premier Marshall has also announced that returning travellers coming into the state will have to pay for their own hotel quarantine from Saturday morning 18 July 2020.
“… we have made that return free of charge to this point in time but as of Saturday morning there will be a $3,000 charge for the first individual, a partner will be a further $1,000 earn children will be $500 each.
“… we are still keen to assist with the national repatriation program but taxpayers will not be footing the bill going forward.”
IMAGE: southaustralia.com
