South Australia closes border to travellers from several Northern Territory LGAs

South Australia closed its border to travellers from several local government areas in the Northern Territory as of 6:00pm Monday night.

The new direction blocks travellers who had been in local government areas (LGAs) north of the Central Desert and Barkly LGAs — excluding the East Arnhem LGA — on or after Thursday, August 12.

Only returning South Australian residents, people who are relocating, people escaping domestic violence and essential travellers will be allowed to enter SA from the affected LGAs, which cover both Darwin and Katherine.

However, those travellers will still be subjected to level 4 requirements upon their arrival in SA, meaning they must self-quarantine for 14 days and undertake COVID-19 tests on days 1, 5 and 13.

They also have to wear masks covering their mouth and nose if they come into contact with the public for 14 days after their arrival in the state.

The new rules follow South Australian Premier Steven Marshall earlier foreshadowing a strengthening of border restrictions with the Northern Territory, where a snap three-day lockdown was announced after a positive COVID-19 case.

The new rules also mean travellers who had been south of, and including, the Central Desert and Barkly LGAs on or after Thursday, August 12, must adhere to level 3 requirements upon their arrival in SA.

That means they will have to undertake COVID-19 tests on days 1, 5 and 13 and quarantine until their first negative test result.

They will also be banned from attending high-risk settings, such as an aged care home, or events involving more than 1,000 people.

Travellers who had arrived in South Australia from the Northern Territory via air prior to the new direction coming into effect on Monday are also subject to level 3 requirements.

No new COVID-19 cases were recorded in South Australia, with two existing cases still active.

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