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Canberra Today 19°/23° | Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Who’s allowed to cross the border?

Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

THERE are exemptions for Victorians to come into the ACT but there must be an “exceptional need”, according to Chief Minister Andrew Barr. 

The Victorian/NSW border will close at 12.01am on Wednesday (July 8), and, to coincide with the border closure, Mr Barr says the ACT will not be letting any Victorians in – but there are some exceptions.

Mr Barr says exemptions will be granted only in circumstances such as visiting a critically ill or palliative care immediate family member, essential services work (to be assessed), attending a funeral of an immediate family member, providing urgent care to an immediate family member, receiving urgent medical care or leaving Victoria in air transit from another jurisdiction if they did not leave the airport.

“If there is an exceptional need for someone to travel to the ACT, they will have to apply for an exemption at least 48 hours before they intend to travel. Anyone from Victoria trying to enter the ACT without an exemption will be denied entry,” Mr Barr says.

All ACT residents will be approved to return home, subject to entering quarantine for a period of 14 days from the day after leaving Victoria.

“ACT residents will be required to notify ACT Health of their intent to return to the ACT, and provide details on how they intend to travel back to the territory and where they intend to quarantine,” Mr Barr says.

“Any ACT resident that is unable to safely quarantine in their private residence will be provided with options of suitable accommodation where they can quarantine at their own expense.

“For a number of days now our advice to any Canberran planning to visit Victoria has been clear – do not travel.  You will have to quarantine for a full 14 days when you return to the ACT.”

An online system is being stood up to take exemption requests, further details are on the COVID-19 website. 

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Thank you,

Ian Meikle, editor

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