People in the Shoalhaven City and Wingecarribee Shire council areas have been locked out of the ACT, as the Government introduces new restrictions for parts of NSW due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Hunter region.
The areas, which include popular destinations for Canberrans like Bowral, Kangaroo Valley, Nowra, and Mollymook, are subject to the new quarantine requirements, reportedly due to fragments of COVID-19 being found in the wastewater at Wollongong and Bomaderry.
A positive case in NSW was identified as being a resident of the Shoalhaven area, but they not currently in the local health district, the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District confirmed.
ACT Health said the unfolding situation in regional NSW is serious, and restrictions could be imposed for other areas at short notice.
Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee are two of 14 LGAs who will now be subject to 14-day quarantine requirements, along with Armidale Regional Council; Cessnock City Council; Coffs Harbour City Council; Dubbo Regional Council; Dungog Shire Council; Lake Macquarie City Council; Maitland City Council; Mid-Western Regional Council; Muswellbrook Shire Council; Newcastle City Council; Port Stephens Council; and Singleton Council.
COVID-19 fragments have also been detected in the wastewater at Dubbo and Armidale.
The ACT has imposed the same restrictions on people entering from these LGAs as those for people entering from Greater Sydney.
“Anyone entering the ACT from these areas, including returning ACT residents, must complete an online exemption form within 72 hours prior to arriving in the ACT and enter quarantine immediately upon return to the ACT,” authorities said yesterday.
“ACT residents will automatically receive an exemption to enter the ACT and will be supported to safely return to their homes.
“Non-ACT residents will be unable to enter the ACT without an approved exemption.”
The NSW Government yesterday announced a one-week lockdown for the local government areas in the Hunter region.
As well, stay-at-home orders have been announced for Victoria, with the state last night entering its sixth lockdown since the pandemic began.
Non-residents will need an approved exemption to enter the ACT from Victoria.
The orders will apply until at least 11.59pm on Thursday 12 August, in line with Victoria’s lockdown.
The ACT Government’s dedicated COVID-19 website can be found here.
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