The ACT Government will move to permit unrestricted travel between the ACT, NSW and Victoria for both ACT residents and visitors from each state from Monday 1 November.
The move means restrictions on travel to approved postcodes within NSW will no longer apply.
Travel restrictions will instead be managed by identifying “high risk” interstate geographical areas.
“This will not be a large number,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said, “but there may be some and that may change at various points over the months ahead.”
Vaccinated commuters from “high risk” areas in NSW or Victoria will be permitted to travel to the ACT for any reason, with exemption documentation to be automated so there are no delays.
Unvaccinated travellers from the “high risk” locations will only be permitted to travel for essential reasons and will be required to adhere to quarantine requirements.
Those ineligible for vaccination, i.e. children under 12, will follow the requirements placed upon their parents, carers or guardians, which will vary depending on their vaccination status.
Interstate travel outside the affected geographical areas can occur freely for any reason for those vaccinated and unvaccinated.
More details on the identified high risk geographical areas will be made public this Friday, 29 October.
The visitor policy for Canberra’s health facilities will also change from 8am Friday, at which point each patient will be allowed one visitor per day.
“I know that this is still strict, but it will absolutely be a relief for many who want to visit family and friends more easily in the hospital,” Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said today.
It is “strongly recommended” visitors to the hospital are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 where applicable.
Visitor exemptions can and will still be made under certain circumstances including end-of-life visits.
ACT to open up further from Friday 29 October
All the changes previously flagged to take effect from 29 October will still proceed as expected.
From Friday, the maximum household gathering limit moves to 10 (excluding children under 12), while the outdoor gathering limit rises to 30.
Facemasks will also no longer be mandatory outdoors.
Capacity for venues, cafes and restaurants increase to 25 people before one per four square metres density rules apply.
For businesses wishing to have more than 25 customers at a time they can have one person per four square metres within each indoor space (excluding staff), and One person per two square metres within each outdoor space up to 300.
Gyms, Hairdressing and Barbers, Beauty Therapy, Day Spas, Nail Salons, Waxing Salons, Tanning Salons, Tattoo Parlours and Body Modification Studios can all operate under the same density limits.
Capacity limits on gyms, swimming pools, places of worship and libraries will be eased
Community sport will recommence while food courts, dance classes, libraries, galleries museums and outdoor attractions will too reopen with “appropriate density limits applied.
Indoor and outdoor venues will be allowed to reopen for events with restrictions applying based on the type of event being held.
A full run down of what will be allowed in the ACT from 29 October can be found here.
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