NSW stays open as other states shut borders to Victoria in wake of COVID outbreak

NSW has recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 for the 27th consecutive day. Meanwhile Gladys Berejiklian has vowed to keep NSW open, despite her nervous counterparts slamming their borders shut to the growing COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.

NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Two new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,947.

There were 13,088 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 14,518.

The state’s 27th consecutive day of no local cases came as Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to keep NSW open, despite her nervous counterparts slamming their borders shut in response to the growing COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.

Instead, the NSW government will rely on its expert contact tracing teams to keep the outbreak at bay, while also relying on returning residents to stay at home for five days ­instead of a 14-day hotel quarantine.

As the entire state of Victoria was plunged into a five-day lockdown in response to the number of cases connected to the Holiday Inn cluster growing to 14 today, panicked state and ­territory premiers also shut borders.

One new local coronavirus case was recorded as Victoria amid revelations the five-day “circuit-breaker” shutdown can legally extend for two weeks.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has vowed to keep NSW’s border open. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Queensland immediately declared Greater Melbourne a COVID hotspot for 14 days, restricting them from ­entering the state.

The Northern Territory also dec­lared Greater Melbourne a hotspot, forcing travellers into 14 days of mandatory quarantine.

While acknowledging the growing cluster as “a concerning situation”, Ms Berejiklian ruled out imposing similar measures to her interstate counterparts.

“There is no reason for us to close the border,” she said.

CLOSED: NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

CLOSED: Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The sentiment remained unchanged throughout the day, with the NSW Premier issuing a statement late on Friday afternoon declaring the NSW border would “remain open”.

“We wish the people of Victoria well during this difficult time,” Ms ­Berejiklian said.

“NSW acted immediately to screen returning travellers from Victoria as soon as the information was provided to us.

“The border between NSW and Victoria will remain open. NSW Health continues to monitor the situation closely.”

NSW Health yesterday began contacting returning travellers from Victoria to tell them to stay home for five days if they had been in the state at any time after Friday, February 12.

People arriving in NSW from Greater Melbourne by road, air or rail will also be required to complete a declaration form

VICTORIA RECORDS ONE NEW COVID-19 CASE

Victoria has recorded one new locally acquired case of coronavirus after the state entered its first day of its five-day lockdown on Saturday.

It brings the number of active cases in the state to 20, while no cases were recorded in overseas travellers.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday that while none of the cases was community transmitted, the rate and the speed of the infection of the UK strain had made the action essential.

He also reiterated his concerns at the volume of overseas travellers, declaring the more than a thousand per week was too great a risk. He also paused international flights as a “circuit-breaker”. “We have to use an abundance of caution,” he said.

This was despite NSW taking about 3000 returned travellers a week.