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The NSW State Government has today announced that as of 12:01am on Friday, NSW residents returning from Victoria will have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.
Only residents of the NSW border regions will be exempt from the new measure.
"I realise this may be difficult for some people, but the changing situation in Victoria means we must exercise extreme caution," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
"The health of our citizens and economy must be protected - and the health advice says this is the best way to do it.
"We will also further limit the reasons Victorians can seek exemptions to come into NSW."
Dr Kerry Chant said this latest change would reduce the number of people entering NSW from Victoria, and reduce the risk of community transmission.
"This is a critical time in the NSW response and we need to reduce any further risk of seeding of cases from Victoria," Dr Chant said.
Yesterday NSW Health announced there would be a strict permit system put in place for all flights arriving in NSW from Victoria, with all passengers to undergo police and health checks on arrival.
People who can apply for a permit include defence officials, doctors and nurses, critical workers in energy, mining and construction, child protection workers and disability workers.
New South Wales has again recorded 12 new cases of COVID-19 today, with four connected to restaurant outbreaks in Sydney as the state imposes strict new procedures for Victorian flights.
Of the 12 new cases one is a return traveller in hotel quarantine and one is a locally acquired case with an unknown source.
The remaining 10 are linked to known cases including:
- Two linked to the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park,
- Two linked to The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point, and
- Six associated with the funeral gatherings cluster.
There have been 52 deaths in NSW since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are currently 113 people being treated for the virus in the state.
12 new cases of #COVID19 have been diagnosed in NSW between 8pm on 3 August and 8pm on 4 August.
NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 5, 2020
For the latest list of COVID-19 locations, visit: https://t.co/pqkRdfyEBrpic.twitter.com/ZUc78P6iG4
Updated at 1:23pm AEST on 5 August 2020.
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