Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has welcomed the loosening of restrictions on the border, which will help more Victorians return home and allow people from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to enter Victoria since October 6.
The announcement regarding downgrading the Extreme Risk Zones to Red Zones will allow Victorian residents to return following a negative COVID-19 test and home quarantine for 14 days upon their return.
Red Zones will switch to Orange Zones allowing people from Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory to enter Victoria. They will need to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result.
“These changes will bring more Victorians home and offer a greater flexibility to people who rely on travel across the border for family, education, or work commitments,” Ms Sheed said.
“Victoria and New South Wales have always been strongly connected and restrictions from travelling between the states has caused emotional upset and financial hardship in the past few months, so I am pleased the Victorian Government found a reasonable way forward.
“Seeing that 88.9 per cent of Greater Shepparton residents and 91.2 per cent of Moira Shire residents received a vaccination, shows how serious our communities are about running this virus to the ground.”
