Victoria has today advised of changes to control measures, including COVID-19 testing requirements, for the Commercial Freight Industry travelling from orange zones (explained below).
Commercial freight workers are covered by these new rules. Commercial freight worker means a person who is subject to the Freight Code and includes a heavy vehicle driver or a support worker, but excludes:
- removalists who have been in a Red Zone within the last 14 days;
- delivery drivers that have been in a Red Zone within the last 14 days (being drivers of vehicles under 4.5 Gross Vehicle Mass); and
- freight workers who are unable to load/unload cargo in a COVIDSafe manner (e.g., avoiding contact with other people, entering residential premises (e.g., avoiding contact with other people, entering residential premises not permitted).
Red Zones
The current red zones are New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia.
All workers who enter Victoria on a Specified Worker (Low Workplace Interaction) permit from a red zone must be tested for COVID-19:
- at least once every 3 days for the duration of the validity period of the Specified Worker (Low Workplace Interaction) permit on which they have entered Victoria; and
- additionally, if they begin to experience COVID-19 symptoms.
Orange Zone
The Queensland Local Government Areas of City of Brisbane, Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast are currently orange zones (the rest of Queensland is a green zone).
All workers who enter Victoria on a Specified Worker (Low Workplace Interaction) permit from an orange zone must be tested for COVID-19:
- once within the first 3 days of the validity period of the Specified Worker (Low Workplace Interaction) permit on which they have entered Victoria. Pending a negative result, workers will not need to get tested for the remainder of the validity period of that permit.
- additionally, if they begin to experience COVID-19 symptoms.
Workers are not required to be tested for COVID-19 more than four times in any 14 day period, including where they enter Victoria more than once in any 14 day period, unless they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Workers do not have to self-isolate and may continue working while awaiting their test results – unless they develop symptoms. If symptoms develop, workers must immediately self-isolate until they receive their results.
Workers must continue to comply with all requirements of their permit even if they receive a negative test result.
Specified Worker (Low Workplace Interaction) permit holders coming from red and orange zones must continue to adhere to permit requirements post-entry to Victoria, including:
- carrying their permit, photo ID and evidence of residence
- wearing a mask in all indoor and outdoor public spaces and in the vehicle when others are present for the required period (orange zone until negative test and red zone for 14 days) in addition to any mask requirements set forth by the Victorian Chief Health Officer’s Directions for the community;
- not carry passengers except for the purposes of work;
- minimise contact with other persons; and
- keep details of each place you stop (red zone only).
