VICTORIA closed its border to South Australia last night in response to the coronavirus outbreak in the Adelaide suburb of Parafield.The closure will be a hard border for 48 hours before a permit system comes into effect from midnight tomorrow.
Under the hard border, only freight drivers and those with medical or emergency reasons, urgent animal welfare or as authorised by law will be able to pass through the border.
The government said final details of the permit scheme would be provided as soon as possibl,e but the reasons to enter Victoria from South Australia from Saturday night would include emergency services work or provision of essential services; agricultural work; receiving medical care (including seeking coronavirus testing), obtaining medical supplies or compassionate reasons, and; shopping to obtain essential supplies.
There were no new COVID-19 cases detected overnight yesterday in South Australia, as the state entered the first of six days of full lockdown.
There are now 23 cases in the Parafield cluster, with 17 other suspected cases linked to it, SA chief health public officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said at a press conference yesterday morning.
In Victoria, fragments of the virus that causes coronavirus were detected in untreated wastewater taken from Portland and Benalla wastewater treatment plants on Tuesday.
Residents of Portland and Benalla and anyone who has visited between November 15 and 17, with any symptoms at all, are urged to get tested and to isolate until they get their result.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the new measures were taken as an "abundance of caution" due to ongoing community transmission in South Australia.
Victoria recorded 20 straight days of zero new coronavirus cases and no deaths.
"Unless you've got an urgent reason, a really pressing reason to come to Victoria, now is not the time to come to Victoria," Mr Andrews said.
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said Victorians had sacrificed too much to risk new coronavirus outbreaks in regional communities.
"But these further border closures will have a devastating impact on our cross-border communities if decisions aren't made with a deep understanding of local needs," he said.
"The Andrews Labor Government's decision to implement its own permit system on the South Australian border has caused confusion and concern in communities that rely on daily access for work, medical appointments and essential supplies and services.
"It's also a crucial time for our farmers, with the 2020 harvest in full swing. Right now, every second counts and time spent navigating an onerous and ill-informed permit system means less time doing their vital work feeding our nation.
"Any permit system implemented by the Victorian Government must be streamlined with South Australia to make sure border community residents aren't bearing an unworkable burden as they go about their daily lives."
Mr Andrews is expected to announce further easing of restrictions on Sunday, including any new rules for the wearing of face masks.
"I think on Sunday you'll see some changes to mask policy. That'll be principally where you're outside and you're away from others," he said on Wednesday.
"Again, like the borders, they won't be here forever and won't be a feature of our public health response for all of next year," he said. "But for so long as they're serving a purpose, then they'll be part of our rules."
Also, the Victorian Budget will include 120,000 vouchers each worth $200 available to entice more people to visit and stay in regional Victoria.
Under the $28 million initiative, Victorians will be able to apply for the vouchers as long as they spend at least $400 on accommodation, attractions or tours in regional Victoria.
