New travel requirements for NSW and Victoria

New regional NSW LGAs subject to quarantine requirements

The ACT Government will declare 14 additional local government areas (LGAs) in regional NSW as COVID-19 affected areas.

The situation in regional NSW has deteriorated, with cases detected in the Hunter region and positive wastewater detections in many other regional areas. We are acting quickly and decisively in the ACT to respond to this increased risk.

These new restrictions mean that anyone who leaves these areas on or after 11:59 pm tonight (Thursday 5 August 2021) will be required to quarantine for 14 days after leaving the affected areas or until otherwise advised by an authorised person within ACT Health.

The LGAs that will be declared COVID-19 affected areas are:

The same restrictions will apply for these areas that are already in place for people travelling from Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Further information on quarantine is available here.

Anyone entering the ACT from these areas, including returning ACT residents, must complete an online exemption form within 72 hours prior to arriving in the ACT and enter quarantine immediately upon return to the ACT. ACT residents will automatically receive an exemption to enter the ACT and will be supported to safely return to their homes.

The exemption form will be available from 9.00pm tonight.

Non-ACT residents will be unable to enter the ACT without an approved exemption. Exemptions will only be approved in highly exceptional circumstances. Even if an exemption is approved, people receiving an exemption will be required to quarantine. If people do not have suitable premises to quarantine in they will be required to quarantine in an approved hotel at their own expense.

The situation in regional NSW is serious and restrictions could be implemented for other regions at short notice.

Note: The online declaration form will no longer be used for ACT residents who have been in these 14 LGAs and leave these areas after 11:59 pm tonight. Anyone returning from these areas who leave after this time will need to apply for an exemption.

Stay-at-home order for Victoria

The ACT Government will introduce a stay-at-home order from 11:59 pm tonight (Thursday 5 August 2021) for all of Victoria.

This is in response to the Victorian Government’s announcement this afternoon of a state-wide lockdown.

The stay-at-home requirement will apply to all travellers who leave Victoria after 11:59 pm tonight and enter the ACT. 

At this time, the stay-at-home requirement will be in place until 11:59 pm Thursday 12 August 2021.

If you are an ACT resident and leave Victoria after 11:59 pm tonight, you will be required to:

• Complete an online declaration form within 72 hours prior to arriving in the ACT.
• Travel directly to the residence where you will spend the stay-at-home period. You should only leave the residence for an approved essential purpose. The stay-at-home requirement will be in place until at least 11:59 pm on Thursday 12 August 2021.
• You must wear a mask if leaving your premises for any of these essential purposes, except if you are undertaking vigorous exercise outdoors. Mask wearing is not required for children aged 12 or under.

The updated declaration and exemption forms will be available from 9.00pm tonight.

If you are a non-ACT resident, and are seeking to travel to the ACT while these restrictions are in place, you must not enter the ACT without an approved exemption. Exemptions will only be granted for exceptional circumstances, and even if an exemption is approved, you will still be required to follow the stay-at-home requirements while you are in the ACT.

All Canberrans should minimise interstate travel at this time and be prepared to reconsider their plans at short notice. Canberrans should not be travelling to any areas subject to quarantine or a stay-at-home requirement.

With COVID-19 cases now in multiple jurisdictions across Australia, people need to be alert and be prepared for the situation to change quickly.