Queensland health authorities say NSW Covid-19 outbreak is ‘very concerning’ as border speculation continues

A NSW Health spokeswoman said decisions on the border region would depend on which state makes a public health order.

Police check cars as they cross the Queensland NSW border at Stuart Street, Coolangatta in December 2020. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

UPDATE 4pm:

A New South Wales Health spokeswoman said where a border region would apply would depend on where a public health order is made.

She reiterated the rules which apply to people who have been in the Sydney region.

“People who have been in Greater Sydney since June 21 must follow the stay at home rules for 14 days after they were last in Greater Sydney,” she said.

“That means they cannot leave home, except for essential reasons.”

She said New South Wales is “able to define a border region as would apply in NSW.”

“If Queensland were to impose a public health order in relation to travel across the border into Queensland, its definition of the border region would apply to people while in Queensland,” she said.

“NSW Health works closely and collaboratively with other states and territories in its pandemic response.”

UPDATE: 11.10am Wednesday

Queensland authorities have said the Covid-19 situation in New South Wales is “very concerning” although there has been no decision to close the border at this stage.

New South Wales recorded 97 new locally-acquired cases in the Greater Sydney lockdown area in the 24 hours to 8pm Tuesday.

24 of those were infectious while in the community.

No cases have been recorded in Northern NSW as part of this outbreak. One case in Goulburn, outside of the lockdown zone, was recorded in the previous day.

The Sydney lockdown has been extended for two weeks.

A Queensland Health spokesman has said they were continuing to monitor the situation closely.

“Queensland Health will always put the safety of the Queensland community first,” he said.

“The situation in New South Wales is very concerning and each day Queensland Health is monitoring the region closely.

AUGUST 8, 2020: Police check cars at the Queensland border with NSW at Griffith Street at Coolangatta after the border closed the NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

“We continue to urge Queenslanders to reconsider their need to travel to New South Wales at this time.

“Queensland determines any state border closures and hot spots based on a number of factors including overall uncontrolled and unlinked community transmission, local restrictions, testing numbers and wastewater results.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spoke to the issue during the state’s press conference on Tuesday.

“We want Queenslanders to come home because the situation is unfolding each day in New South Wales,” she said.

“So we’re seeing more and more cases, we’re seeing more hospitalisations, and we are monitoring whether it’s spreading to other parts of New South Wales.

“So if we do see it spreading to other parts of New South Wales, we won’t hesitate to shut the border.”

When asked why she would not simply shut the border as Victoria had, the Premier cited health advice.

(This is) because I’m getting the advice of (chief health officer) Dr Young, the health advice, and she’s monitoring all of that sewage in Greater Sydney and she is providing us with advice every single day and we will continue to monitor the situation in New South Wales every single day,” she said.

According to NSW authorities, 71 Covid-19 cases are in hospital, 20 of them in ICU and four of those are on a ventilator.

The border has experienced long queues when the Queensland border restrictions were strict in the past.. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

EARLIER:

Richmond MP Justine Elliot has written to the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urgently requesting a Northern NSW “border zone” be established to protect the residents of the North Coast, before Queensland potentially closes the border.

The calls come as New South Wales records 89 new cases and one death on Tuesday.

There are currently 707 active cases of Covid in New South Wales, so far exclusive to Greater Sydney with the exception of one case in the southern tablelands region of NSW.

Ms Elliot has asked, as the situation escalates in Sydney, for a Northern NSW “border zone” to be established which restricts residents from wider NSW entering the region.

Police patrol the border with NSW at Tweeds Heads. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Failure to do so puts lives, businesses, and jobs at risk,” Ms Elliot said.

“If the hard border closure occurs, the residents of Northern NSW would be much safer, and their livelihoods protected, if they could be included in a QLD/Northern NSW “border zone”.

She said that zone should at minimum include Tweed, Byron and Ballina LGAs but had scope to extend as far down as Coffs Harbour and as far west as the edge of the state.

“We know the Queensland Government has stated publicly they’re monitoring the situation daily and they are considering a hard border closure due to the ongoing crisis were seeing unfolding in Sydney,” Ms Elliot said.

“It’s potentially likely – that’s why I’ve asked to take this urgent action.”

The letter reads:

On Monday Tweed MP Geoff Provest offered a similar sentiment in support of a border bubble.

“The cross-border commissioner has been very active in that area and is in constant consultation with the Queensland authorities to keep the border bubble,” Mr Provest said.

“I’m very hopeful of that although I am concerned; if you look at the Victorian model, they warned about three days in advance for all Victorians to get back home and then they had a hard shutdown.

“I think the real concern is if there’s any outbreaks or any virus detected.”

Warnings signs greet motorists at the border between Qld and NSW at Tweeds Heads. Picture Glenn Hampson

The Queensland Government was approached for comment and a spokesman would not be drawn on whether there would be any guarantee of a border bubble for Northern NSW, even if no Covid-19 cases spread into the north of the state.
He instead reiterated the border was not being closed at this stage.

NSW Health and QLD Health has been contacted for comment.