Summary of where Australian States and Territories are at in regards to COVID-19.
The latest news to rock Australia is that Victoria has just entered its fifth, that’s right, FIFTH lockdown.
And it joins another New South Wales – which is facing about two months of its own lockdown.
So what on earth is going on around the country, we break it down for you.
WA
Let’s start at home.
We’ve had no locally acquired cases for the past week, with the final restrictions lifting after this month’s four-day lockdown.
Due to COVID-19 activity throughout Australia, border restrictions have been put into play.
Restrictions are currently in place against NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.
People from NSW and Queensland are not allowed into WA without an exemption.
Those from ACT can visit, but must quarantine for 14 days and the same applies for Victoria, for now.
New South Wales
The worst affected State in the country, NSW on Monday recorded Australia’s first three-figure COVID-19 positive day in 2021.
There are now 875 active cases in the State, with 65 acquired in the community over the last 24 hours.
People living in Sydney are not allowed to travel into regional NSW, and must follow similar lockdown rules to what we’re used to.
That means no leaving the house except for essential reasons, with exercise allowed in a group of 10 or less.
Funerals can go ahead with a maximum of 10 people, but weddings are off the cards.
Victoria
Victoria recorded a new case after removalists visited the State from Sydney earlier this week.
Three further cases were recorded, brought into the State by Melbournians returning home from Sydney who broke strict quarantine orders.
Further cases were reported on Thursday and the State’s total climbed to 18 before lockdown rules were enforced.
South Australia
The same removalists that brought COVID to Victoria also travelled to South Australia, but so far no linked cases have been detected.
South Australia has already had a close call when 29 people who worked on the NT Granite mine returned home late last month.
So far, about 150 South Australians who have been to Victorian exposure sites are in the State.
Arrivals from all of NSW are not allowed into the State without an exemption, as well as those from Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, the Gold Coast, the Lockyer Valley region.
Queensland
Queensland has recorded three cases as of Thursday, bringing its total to three in the community so far.
The two new cases are a 12-year-old boy who has returned from America and his father.
The third is a woman in her 40’s who works at the international airport. She worked three days in the airport while infectious.
Queensland has closed its border to great Sydney, including Wollongong.
Restrictions were due to ease in Queensland on the 16th but will now be extended, with masks, social distancing and gathering limits all enforced for another week.
Tasmania
Tassie has recorded no new COVID-19 cases, but is taking a different tactic for how it deals with outbreaks.
Rather than shut off to entire States, or even the whole mainland, Tasmania is taking a targeted approach.
So instead of all of NSW, Tasmania is shut off to those from the greater Sydney area, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
Northern Territory
After its week-long lockdown, the Northern Territory has kept COVID-19 free, only reporting cases in quarantine.
So all that’s really left are the border restrictions.
As with many other States, the Northern Territory is choosing not to shut to the whole of NSW, Queensland or Victoria, but hotspot areas only.
So those from Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast are not allowed in, neither are those from Brisbane and Moreton Bay.
For Victoria, Melbourne, Geelong and Moorabool Shire are also hotspots.
ACT
The ACT broke its 365 day COVID-19 free streak this week when a case was recorded as a construction worker travelled from Sydney to work in Canberra.
Borders have been tightened, meaning anyone entering from Sydney, the Central Coast, Wollongong and other areas will have to quarantine for 14 days.
Stay at home orders have also been enforced for anyone arriving from Victoria as of Thursday night, with exemptions needed from Friday to enter the State.
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
Western Australia currently has the lowest percentage of vaccinated individuals aged 16+ with less than 10%.
Northern Territory is leading the way with over 20% of the population vaccinated.
For the latest travel restrictions visit wa.gov.au.
Stay up to date with the latest Perth COVID updates and Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.
