Quarantine-free travel between the ACT and Victoria will be allowed from next month, as the state moves out of its COVID lockdown.
Fully vaccinated people will be able to freely move between the ACT and Victoria from November 1.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the move would mirror quarantine-free arrangements between NSW and Victoria, which were announced on Thursday.
“We’ve already announced that as an intention, that we would follow NSW in that regard,” Mr Barr said.
“And so, I think people can factor in November 1 as that date.”
Mr Barr already announced Canberrans would be able to travel to all of NSW from November 1, in line when the NSW government eased restriction on regional travel for Sydneysiders.
However, NSW Health said on Thursday that unvaccinated travellers from Victoria won’t be allowed to cross the border into NSW for holiday or recreation.
It comes as the ACT recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19, as the capital’s retail stores reopened to customers for the first time in more than two months.
Canberra’s vaccination rate continues to climb with the number of over-12s fully vaccinated at 84.6 per cent.
The number of patients in hospital stands at 20, with 11 in intensive care and five on a ventilator.
Non-essential retail in Canberra reopened on Friday, one week ahead of schedule.
Density limits of one person per four square metres will still apply.
Meanwhile, a third jab for immunocompromised Canberrans will be made available at ACT mass-vaccination clinics.
The third dose will be rolled out at ACT government clinics from Friday, as well as through GPs and pharmacies for eligible people.
The territory’s health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said it would provide extra protection for at-risk Canberrans as restrictions eased.
“We have worked hard to increase vaccination access for vulnerable people in our community,” she said.
“The additional primary dose is only available to a specific cohort of vulnerable Australians for whom two doses are not as effective. This is not classified as a booster.”
The ACT will also look to welcome back fully vaccinated international students from the beginning of next year.
The students must have had a COVID-19 vaccine recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and follow federal government testing requirements.
They will not be required to quarantine in the ACT.
AAP
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