VICTORIA was set to close its border to New South Wales at midnight on Friday amid growing COVID-19 outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne.
In Victoria, masks are now compulsory indoors apart from the home, and gatherings at private homes are limited to 15 guests.
Under the new measures, residents of local government areas near the border do not need a permit to cross the border, but can use a driver’s licence or other photo ID to prove their address.
Residents under 18 do not need to provide identification.
Border zone residents entering Victoria at Mildura late on Friday were being allowed to enter on production of proof of address with minimal delays.
Exemptions for freight, medical care and emergency services were in place.
More details on the arrangements, and the system for travellers in other states who need to transit through NSW to return to Victoria, were expected in the coming days.
Anyone else returning from NSW to Victoria from Saturday was being directed to have a COVID-19 test and go into hotel quarantine for 14 days.
Announcing the new restrictions on Thursday, Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said she hoped the measures would effectively combat the spread of the latest outbreak.
“These difficult decisions are about protecting the community and keeping case numbers low and doing everything we can to lock in the gains we made over the course of 2020, so we can move to 2021 and have a much better year for 2021,” she said.
Residents of local government areas that were exempt from the permit requirement included Bendigo, Buloke, Gannawarra, Loddon, Mildura, Swan Hill and Yarriambiack in Victoria.
New South Wales exempt areas included the City of Broken Hill and Balranald, Edward River, Murray River and Wentworth shires.
South Australia reinstated its hard border with NSW from Thursday, with a 100km buffer zone for border communities.
Victoria recorded eight COVID-19 cases on Friday, five of which were locally acquired, while NSW recorded three.
Victorians were strongly advised not to travel to NSW, amid warnings that border restrictions were being reviewed daily.
For more information, or to seek permits to enter Victoria, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au
