South Australia implements hard border with Greater Melbourne

South Australia Police say people from Greater Melbourne will be barred from entering the state from midnight due to new coronavirus cases there.

The changes mean no-one travelling from the Greater Melbourne area will be able to enter South Australia from 12:01am Thursday, unless they have an exemption from SA Health.

SA authorities earlier flagged their intention to close the border, but said they were waiting for further information from the Victorian Government.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and the state’s Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier, held a press conference this afternoon, just before additional COVID-19 cases linked to a Melbourne quarantine hotel were announced.

“It’s a very dynamic and moving situation,” Commissioner Stevens said.

Earlier, Professor Spurrier said she was expecting more details about how many close contacts and travellers linked to the Holiday Inn at the Melbourne Airport had been tested for COVID-19, as well as the results.

Victorian authorities later confirmed the cluster linked to the Holiday Inn had grown to eight.

Travellers from Victorian regions outside Greater Melbourne will still be permitted to enter SA through the cross-border permit system, but will need to have coronavirus tests on days one, five and 12.

Only people who are returning home, genuinely relocating, or essential travellers, will be allowed to enter SA from Greater Melbourne.

Authorities have yet to say how long the border restriction will be in place.