The Emergency Management (Arrivals) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been created and replaces the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel – General No 2) (COVID-19) Direction 2021. This Direction came into effect at 12.01 am on 23 November 2021.
The Emergency Management (Arrivals Associated) (COVID-19) Direction 2021 has been created and replaces the Emergency Management (Cross Border Travel—Associated Direction No 64) (COVID-19) Direction 2021. This Direction came into effect at 12.01 am on 23 November 2021.
Key changes include:
EntryCheck SA:
EntryCheck SA is a new entry application process that will replace the Cross Border Travel Registration process on November 23, 2021. It will assess your level of risk and advise you of any entry conditions needed to enter SA.
From 12.01am 23 November 2021, all people planning to travel to South Australia from interstate and overseas, including returning South Australians, must apply through EntryCheck SA — https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/travel/entrycheck-sa.
Fully vaccinated travellers will be assessed as one of the following risk levels depending on the interstate LGA's COVID-19 community transmission and its population rate of full dose vaccination. You can find the level of risk determined for interstate local government areas here: http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDLGAentry.
The risk levels carry the following entry conditions:
- VERY LOW RISK:
- No entry conditions
- LOW RISK:
- Have a COVID-19 test taken in 72 hours prior to arrival in SA
- Daily Symptom check for 14 days after arrival using HealthCheck SA
- MODERATE RISK:
- Have a COVID-19 test taken in 72 hours prior to arrival in SA
- Have a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in SA
- Quarantine until test taken
- Daily Symptom check for 14 days after arrival using HealthCheck SA
- HIGH RISK AND INTERNATIONAL:
- Have a Negative COVID-19 test result received in 72 hours prior to arrival in SA
- Quarantine for 7 days using HealthCheck SA
- Have a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in SA
- Have a COVID-19 test again on days 6 and 13
- Daily symptom check for 14 days after arrival using HealthCheck SA
- No entry to high risk settings for 14 days after arrival
- No entry to COVID Management Plan events for 14 days after arrival
Vaccinated returning South Australian residents who have left SA for 72 hours or less are NOT required to have a COVID-19 test prior to arrival.
Unvaccinated people, including returning SA residents, planning to travel to SA will need to apply for an exemption and this can be done at the end of their application on EntryCheck SA.
HealthCheck SA:
Depending on the risk level you are assessed as, you may be required to download the HealthCheck SA app for daily symptom checking and/or quarantine requirements.
Cross Border Community:
The NSW Cross Border Corridor is 100km west of the border between South Australia and NSW and now includes:
- City of Broken Hill Local Government Area
- Unincorporated Far West NSW (including Broken Hill and Silverton), and
- Wentworth.
The Victorian Cross Border Corridor is the area 70 km to the west of the border between South Australia and Victoria and now includes:
- Glenelg Shire Council,
- Hindmarsh Shire Council,
- Horsham Rural City Council,
- Mildura Rural City Council,
- Southern Grampians Shire Council and
- West Wimmera Council.
Fully vaccinated residents of the Cross Border Community can make an application to enter South Australia using EntryCheck SA.
Cross Border Community members who leave the cross border corridor on the New South Wales or Victorian side for more than 72 hours (within 14 days of their arrival in South Australia) will be required to have a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their first arrival in South Australia but are not required to make a new application to enter South Australia.
Approval will be granted for three months allowing Cross Border Community members to enter South Australia unrestricted.
Cross Border Community members are not required to have a pre-entry COVID-19 test if:
- they remain in the cross border corridor, or
- leave the cross border corridor for 72 hours or less.
Cross Border Community members who leave the cross border corridor on the New South Wales or Victorian side for more than 72 hours will be required to have a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their first arrival in South Australia but are not required to make a new application to enter South Australia.
When entering South Australia Cross Border Community members may be asked to produce evidence of their residential address and vaccination status.
Existing cross border approvals will be honoured until they expire at which time a new application will be required via EntryCheck SA.
Essential Travellers
Vaccinated Essential Travellers are permitted to enter South Australia.
Any requirement to quarantine will not apply for Essential Travellers, but they will not be able to enter high risk settings or COVID-19 Management Plan Events for 14 days.
Any requirement to test prior to or upon arrival will be satisfied if evidence of a test within 7 days can be produced.
All existing Essential Traveller Approvals will be honoured until they expire - at that time travellers will be required to make an application to enter South Australia using EntryCheck SA
Essential Traveller approvals issued by EntryCheck SA will be for 3 months.
Unvaccinated Essential Travellers will be prohibited from entry, however may apply to SA Health for an exemption from this requirement.
Designated Commercial Transport and Freight Workers from a very low risk area (Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia) can enter South Australia if they are not vaccinated, but has received, or will receive at least one does of a COVID-19 vaccine on or before 8 December 2021 and has evidence of a booking to receive a second dose. Prior to their vaccination they must produce evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within 7 days prior to entry, or within 12 hours or arrival.
Other existing requirements remain.
The information above only highlights the key changes made to the Directions and does not reflect all requirements. Members of the public are encouraged to see the full Directions for further information.
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations
If you require further information you can call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 8am to 8pm 7 days per week or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
