Australia’s most populous states and the two most affected this year by the delta outbreak have officially reopened their borders for ‘free travel’. The NSW Victoria border reopening was announced last night.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced in a joint statement that NSW and ACT will be declared a green zone under Victoria’s travel permit system. This is the first time in six months that free travel between the two states will be permitted.
NSW-Victoria border reopening
People entering Victoria will be required to obtain a permit from Service Victoria before they arrive in order to verify they are COVID-free and not a close contact. Victorians are not allowed to enter NSW if they have been in a place of high concern.
Restrictions remain in place for non vaccinated residents arriving from Victoria to NSW.
Mr Perrottet said in a press release: “NSW is set to pass 90 per cent double dose with Victoria not far behind, allowing family and friends to be reunited in the lead up to Christmas after many months of being separated.”
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews added that both states have been through a lot in the last few months and lauded the efforts of those who got vaccinated.
“Thanks to the incredibly hard work of Victorians and people in NSW getting vaccinated. We’re delighted to be able to have free travel between the two states again.”
Although both states have seen a spike in numbers today, vaccination rates continue to climb. In Victoria, 92.8 per cent have had their first vaccine dose. 82 per cent of eligible Victorians over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, in NSW 93.8 per cent of the eligible population have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 89.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.
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