Arrivals into the ACT who have been in Greater Sydney will now need to quarantine for 14 days.
The new requirement will come into effect from 11.59pm tonight, Friday 9 July, after NSW today recorded 44 new local cases of COVID-19, prompting NSW authorities to further tighten lockdown restrictions in the Greater Sydney area.
Anyone entering the ACT prior to midnight will be required to abide by the current stay-at-home orders in place for arrivals from the region, which includes Sydney and the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
All arrivals from these areas, today declared COVID-19 affected areas by the ACT Government, will now need to complete an exemption form prior to travel to the ACT.
ACT residents will be granted an automatic exemption to enter the Territory and complete their two weeks of quarantine, while non-residents will need their exemption approved by ACT authorities.
ACT Health said requirements for exemption approvals will be tightened in light of the Greater Sydney situation.
“Exemptions will only be approved in highly exceptional circumstances.
“Even if an exemption is approved, people receiving an exemption will be required to quarantine.
“If people do not have suitable premises to quarantine in, they will be required to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense.”
Despite the worsening NSW situation, the ACT’s mask mandate will still be lifted tonight as planned.
“While masks will no longer be mandatory, the Government is still encouraging their use in spaces where physical distancing is not possible, such as public transport or crowded venues,” ACT Health said in a statement.
“However, this may change at short notice and Canberrans should be prepared.”
The ACT’s dedicated COVID-19 website can be found here.
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