Police checkpoints will remain in place along the Victoria-NSW border into the new year, although some residents of central Victoria will not need a permit to return home if they venture north of the Murray for a holiday.
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Martin Foley confirmed on Monday that the border would not come down this week.
"It's certainly not going to be this week and we'll continue to take the advice of public health officials as to when that (reopening) will be the case," Mr Foley said.
"There is no chance of the borders reopening for New Year's Eve ... we want to make sure those borders, particularly to the red zones of Sydney and the Central Coast, stay shut down."
He did not say when the border was going to reopen.
Under the current border arrangements, people who live in or have visited Greater Sydney (including the Northern Beaches) or the Central Coast in NSW in the past 14 days cannot enter Victoria.
Regional NSW is classed as a 'green zone' and travel into Victoria is still permitted, but people who have been to these areas - including returning Victorian residents - must hold a valid border crossing permit when coming into Victoria.
However, there are exemptions for residents of local government areas near the border in both Victoria and NSW, including Greater Bendigo, Buloke, Campaspe, Loddon, and Gannawarra shires in central Victoria.
"People who live in a border community who have only visited a green zone on or after 11 December or in the last 14 days (whichever is most recent) don't need a permit," a Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson confirmed.
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People aged over 18 who live in these exempt areas must carry photographic identification showing their address, such as a driver's licence, to travel between NSW and Victoria without a permit.
Anyone who tries to enter Victoria having been in Greater Sydney or the Central Coast in the past two weeks will enter mandatory hotel quarantine and be fined, while those who cross the border without a valid permit or exemption risk a $1652 fine.
"DHHS continues to work closely with Victoria Police and we thank them for the work they are doing at checkpoints along the border to keep our state safe," the department spokesperson said.
For more information on the border restrictions, visit the government's coronavirus website.
Victoria has gone 59 days without a community-acquired case of COVID-19.
Two returned travellers from overseas, currently in hotel quarantine, were confirmed to have the virus on Monday.
- With AAP
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
