There was chaos at Sydney airport on Friday morning as crowds of would-be travellers tried to beat the sudden border restrictions threatening Christmas plans.
Hundreds of people made a dash for the airport early on Friday as almost every Australian state and territory moved to impose travel bans on Sydney-siders after the emergence of the Northern Beaches coronavirus cluster.
The situation was evolving quickly as more details emerged about the mystery outbreak, which reached 17 positive cases by Friday morning. Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned NSW residents to “brace themselves” ahead of a NSW Health update.
Victoria said its rules for NSW travellers were being reviewed hourly as it monitored the Sydney situation. Other states, including Western Australia, have already ordered arrivals from Sydney into 14-days self-isolation – for one group of travellers late on Thursday, that order came partway through their flight to Perth.
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On Friday, standing in a lengthy queue for a COVID test in inner-city Randwick, Sydney-sider Andy Ryan summed up the fears of many.
“I think everyone is really just expecting those rules and restrictions that are in place currently to change quite drastically by the end of the day … Everyone is assuming the borders will be shut,” he told the ABC.
“I think everyone is really trying to avoid Melbourne – no one wants a Melbourne on our hands and there are similar trademark signs of that developing now.”
Travel restrictions imposed by other states and territories on NSW residents were changing quickly on Friday morning.
These are the current requirements (as at 11am AEDT):
Western Australia
Anyone who enters WA from NSW must self-isolate for 14 days. Those already in WA must self-quarantine for 14 days, starting from the date they were last on the Northern Beaches.
South Australia
Anyone recently arrived in SA from NSW should self-isolate for 14 days and get tested if they have visited any venues on the NSW Health alert list.
Northern Territory
Anyone who enters NT from Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council area must undergo 14 days of supervised quarantine.
Queensland
Anyone who enters Queensland and has been on Sydney’s northern beaches since December 11 must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days. From Saturday, anyone who has been to the outbreak area and who wants to travel to Queensland will have to go into hotel quarantine.
ACT
Anyone entering ACT who has been on the Northern Beaches since December 11 must get tested and self-isolate.
Victoria
Anyone arriving in the state from Sydney’s Northern Beaches must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days.
Tasmania
Anyone who has visited the Northern Beaches Council area since December 11, as well as the Kirribilli Club, Penrith RSL and Gannons Park in Peakhurst at various times between December 11-14, is barred from entering Tasmania. Travel passes for NSW residents wishing to travel into Tasmania have been cancelled – would-be arrivals must confirm they have not visited hotspot areas when they reapply.
See updates on the latest interstate travel rules in response to the Northern Beaches outbreak here
-with agencies
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