NSW Covid outbreak prompts Qld border closure consideration
Australia is watching NSW’s handling of its Covid-19 outbreak and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is monitoring whether to close the border.
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The eyes of Australia are on New South Wales’ handling of its Covid-19 outbreak, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declaring the next week will be crucial to determining whether to close the border to the state.
Queensland recorded no new cases of community transmission on Saturday morning and five in hotel quarantine.
In the past 24 hours the state administered 14,054 tests.
On Friday Ms Palaszczuk declared authorities were considering how to tackle the NSW situation, and whether a hard border should be established.
“We’re going to be looking at that very closely,” she said.
“The eyes of Australia really are on Sydney with the epicentre of the Delta strain because our biggest concern is if that is not contained and brought under control it’ll spread throughout the country.”
NSW announced 44 new cases on Friday, prompting some government MPs – including Health Minister Brad Hazzard to suggest the state would need to live with Covid.
“If the individuals that we need don’t hear (NSW CHO) Dr Chant’s message and don’t respond, then at some point we’re going to move to a stage where we’re going to have to accept that the virus has a life which will continue in the community,” he said.
The comment has concerned leaders across the nation who fear a failure to contain the virus will be detrimental to the nation.
“I will do what’s in the best interests of this state – Queenslanders know me, they know that they can put their trust in me to keep them safe,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Next week is going to be crucial.”
The State Government has previously said a hard border to NSW would likely not be introduced unless there was widespread community transmission outside of Greater Sydney or in the state’s far north.
However, Ms Palaszczuk on Friday said “I don’t want to speculate” on what would trigger a hard border.
“We are monitoring it over the next week to see what actions the NSW Government take,” she said.
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