Victoria reclassifies ALL of Greater Sydney but one council area as a 'green zone' meaning residents can travel to and from the state without quarantining
Victoria will reclassify all of Greater Sydney except one council area as a 'green zone', allowing residents to travel into the state.
Most of the suburbs are expected to be changed from an 'orange zone' to a 'green zone' at 6pm on Friday.
Only the Cumberland local government area, in western Sydney, will not be included in the reclassification.
The local council area is currently regarded as a 'red zone' and includes suburbs such as Auburn, Berala and Greystanes.
The area will also have its classification changed to an 'orange zone'.
Victoria will reclassify all of Greater Sydney except the Cumberland Local Government Area as a 'green zone', allowing residents to travel into the state
Most of the suburbs will be changed from an 'orange zone' to a 'green zone at 6pm on Friday
'We're extremely happy to see the last red zone in New South Wales be downgraded,' state premier Daniel Andrews said.
'We're reminding people to get tested if they're returning from an orange zone, so we can continue to enjoy an open and COVIDSafe summer.'
Chief health officer Brett Sutton said authorities would continue to monitor the 'orange zone'.
'This is another fantastic step towards a COVIDSafe 2021 – we'll continue to monitor the remaining orange zone and will downgrade it as soon as it's safe to do so.'
Residents living outside of the Cumberland local government area will now be able to travel freely into Victoria with a permit.
That includes Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield City, Inner West, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality and Liverpool.
Wollongong and Blue Mountains will also be reclassified to a 'green zone'.
Victoria introduced the traffic light system to reduce the chances of Covid-19 spreading into the state.
Victoria introduced the traffic light system to reduce the chances of Covid-19 spreading into the state (pictured, patrols set up at the New South Wales and Victoria border)
Residents living outside of the Cumberland local government area will now be able to travel freely into Victoria with a permit (pictured, residents in Sydney CBD)
Victoria's 'traffic light' system
Victoria introduced the traffic light system to reduce the chances of Covid-19 spreading into the state.
An area that was declared a 'red zone' meant residents were not allowed to enter Victoria without an 'exception, exemption or work or transit permit.'
An 'orange zone' meant residents needed to apply for a permit and then immediately get tested for Covid-19 and isolate until the results were returned.
'Green zone' allowed residents to travel into the state with a permit, without the need to self-isolate.
An area that was declared a 'red zone' meant residents were not allowed to enter Victoria without an 'exception, exemption or work or transit permit.'
An 'orange zone' meant residents needed to apply for a permit and then immediately get tested for Covid-19 and isolate until the results were returned.
'Green zone' allowed residents to travel into the state with a permit, without the need to self-isolate.
The change of classification comes after the federal government suspended the 'travel bubble' between New Zealand and Australia for a further 72 hours.
Anyone arriving in Victoria from New Zealand during the suspension will have to enter hotel quarantine for two weeks.
Anyone arriving in Victoria from New Zealand during the suspension will have to enter hotel quarantine for two weeks (pictured, Melbourne residents at St Kilda beach)
Meanwhile, Australian Open tennis players and support staff have begun leaving hotel quarantine in Melbourne.
Players started leaving the hotels on Thursday evening, with about 960 people expected to have finished quarantine by Sunday.
The mandatory quarantine system came under fire from some of the elite players, with the hotel's confined spaces and lack of facilities a problem.
A total of eight people associated with the event have tested positive for COVID-19.
The tournament is scheduled to start on February 8.
Greater Sydney reclassification
Victoria is set to change most of Greater Sydney from an 'orange zone' to a 'green zone' at 6pm on Friday.
This will mean residents will be able to freely travel into Victoria with a permit.
Only the Cumberland Local Government Area will remain classified as a 'red zone'. The follow suburbs fall into the council area:
Auburn
Berala
Chester Hill
Fairfield
Girraween
Granville
Greystanes
Guildford
Guildford West
Holroyd
Homebush West
Lidcombe
Mays Hill
Merrylands
Merrylands West
Pemulwuy
Pendle Hill
Prospect
Regents Park
Rookwood
Smithfield
South Granville
South Wentworthville
Sydney Olympic Park
Toongabbie
Wentworthville
Westmead
Woodpark
Yennora