Formal restrictions will come into effect from 4pm today after the state government announced it would be closing SA borders to reduce the spread of COVID-19 virus into the state.
This was done on the advice of SA Health specialists and requires all people entering SA to isolate for 14-days from their arrival.
Breaching these conditions could lead to fines of up to $75,000, while failure to abide by the directions can lead to $20,000 in fines.
Anyone who does not abide by the direction faces a maximum penalty of $20,000 and a company breaching the direction faces a maximum penalty of $75,000.
SA Police will be stopping travellers at checking points and names and details will be recorded, including their South Australian address for the period of self-quarantine.
But there have been exemptions put in place in some circumstances.
Travellers entering the state will be required to determine if they meet these requirements. A member of the public who believes they are an 'essential traveller', will be asked to justify their status if they are spoken to by police at a checking point or any other place in the state.
The officer will then make a final determination and where appropriate allow the traveller to transit into the state uninterrupted, or in other cases the requirements to quarantine under the direction will apply.
The direction generally includes those listed below as 'essential travellers';
- National and state security and governance
- Health services
- Essential medical treatment
- Transport and freight services
- Skills critical to maintaining key industries or businesses
- Emergency Services workers
- Cross border community members
- Passing through (travellers will need to make their own enquiries about entry into their final state destination)
- Compassionate grounds
At this stage agriculture is considered a key industry.
People who live or work near or across the border and wish to seek an exemption should email sacovid19exemptions@sa.gov.au and include as much information as possible in the email.
SAPOL is also requesting people stop calling Triple Zero and 131 444 to find out information about border controls.
More information is available here.
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