State changes border measure with Victoria

Residents outside of Greater Melbourne will now be able to enter the state as long as they have a day one, five and 13 PCR test, and must isolate until a negative Covid-19 result is returned from the first test.

The eased restrictions also apply for travellers from Geelong.

Premier Steven Marshall announced the changes on Tuesday after the restrictions were discussed at the state‘s Transition Committee meeting.

However, he said there was no set date to ease restrictions with Greater Melbourne.

“The direction is being drafted at the moment and as soon as that‘s ready, the restriction on regional Victoria will be lifted,” Mr Marshall said.

“I think this will be a massive relief to people in regional Victoria.”

The Premier said further discussion surrounding the state’s border restrictions with Melbourne would continue, but said authorities still had “some concerns” with the hotspot.

“There are still cases coming through and we will continue to work with Dr Brett Sutton, who is the Chief Health Officer in Victoria.

“Obviously we‘ll continue to keep looking at the statistics and information coming out of Greater Melbourne and if we can lift those restrictions in the coming days or weeks, we will do that.

“We’re very hopeful Victoria get on top of this current wave – their testing is through the roof.”

Victoria was plunged into a lockdown last month after a man contracted Covid-19 while isolating in an Adelaide CBD medi-hotel.

When he returned home to Melbourne, he developed symptoms four days later and visited a number of locations, sparking community transmission.