Plenty to take in again today as COVIDSafe plans between NSW - Victoria and the ACT evolve and become part of our life for the time being.
Local businesses are carrying all this particularly hard; another summer disrupted by circumstances beyond their control.
I hope this overview helps with some of the local questions and concerns I've been seeing and hearing from north, south, east and west across the #MightyEdenMonaro.
Whatever your circumstances please stick with the COVIDSafe rules that have helped reduce the risk so far. And if you can please support our local business community.
Keep talking, keep connected, keep informed - the strength of this community continues to be tested but also reinforced.
BORDER BUBBLE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN NSW & VICTORIAIf you are a resident of a border community who has not left the border area in the last 14 days you can travel to another border community in the ‘border bubble’ without a permit - using your drivers licence to prove your residential address.
This means people who live in one border community - for example, East Gippsland - do not currently need to apply for a permit to visit a NSW border community.
Residents of the following border communities are exempt from needing a permit to travel within the NSW - Victorian border bubble:
NSW:
Albury City, Balranald, Bega Valley, Berrigan, Broken Hill, Edward River, Federation, Greater Hume, Hay, Lockhart, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Wagga Wagga, Wentworth.
VICTORIA:
Alpine Valley, Benalla, Bendigo, Buloke, Campaspe, East Gippsland, Gannawarra, Indigo, Loddon, Mildura, Moira, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Towong, Wangaratta, Wodonga, Yarriambiack.
NOTE: Visitors cannot leave the ‘border bubble’ when visiting or they will considered to be returning from a red zone.
ACT BORDER ARRANGEMENTS FOR NSW REGIONAL AREASThere are currently no restrictions for people who intend to travel to the ACT and have not been in a COVID-affected area of NSW.
Those NSW COVID-affected areas are Northern Beaches, Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong Local Government Areas. Regional NSW communities surrounding the ACT are not currently classed as 'COVID-affected'.
If you have been to one of those affected areas, do not visit the ACT unless you have an exemption. More info here - https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel/nsw...
ACT Policing are stopping cars entering Canberra on the Federal Highway and other locations to speak with people about the ACT's Health Directions and any quarantine requirements. Delays are expected.
BEGA VALLEY TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, & ADVICEAn alert is now in place for locals and visitors in the Bega Valley after two people from Victoria tested positive for COVID-19 after attending venues in Bermagui and Eden:
Great Southern Hotel in Eden on Wednesday 30 December between 5pm and 6:30pm Bermi’s Beachside Cafe in Bermagui on Thursday 31 December between 9am and 10am.NSW Health says anyone who attended either venue at these times is a casual contact and must get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. You should continue to monitor for symptoms and if any symptoms occur, get tested again.
Contact tracing continues for both venues.
Testing is available at the following locations:
Bermagui’s Dickinson Oval, from 10:00am to 3:00pm Eden Community Health Twofold car park, Bass Street Eden, from 10:00am to 2:00pm South East Regional Hospital in Bega from 8:00am to 7:00pmFURTHER ADVICE AND SUPPORTNSW Health - https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
ACT Health - https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/
You can also contact the NSW COVID-19 Support Line on 1800 318 248 for further advice.
Photo from Braidwood Bugle: Traffic heading into Canberra on the Federal Highway, Jan 2, 2021
