Victoria’s health minister makes ‘no apology’ for shutting NSW border
Victoria’s health minister has defended a decision to shut the border to NSW as cases spike in both states.
Victoria’s health minister defended a decision to close the border to New South Wales as cases spiked in both states.
The border was closed on Friday with people prohibited from entering Victoria and not allowed to enter hotel quarantine unless given an exemption.
“We make no apologies for closing the border, it was based on public health advice,” Health Minister Martin Foley said on Saturday.
He said the state government had been consistent that the “deteriorating position” in New South Wales was of significant concern to health authorities.
But he acknowledged there was significant disruption for Victorians trying to return home and those living in border communities.
Thousands of Victorians waited in long traffic queues in a mad scramble to get home before the border was slammed shut.
Those who didn’t make the cut off were told to find accomodation in NSW and cannot enter the state unless they are granted an exemption.
“We need to make sure that we stay ahead of this cluster and we take all the necessary measures we can to make sure that we bring it under control as soon as possible,” Mr Foley said.
More than 900 police and SES volunteers were on the border to manage the flow of people allowed back into the state.
It came as the state recorded 10 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in the state.
Genomic testing of the virus showed it had come from the outbreak in the Sydney’s North Shores and Croydon.
“The now genomic proof is in the pudding. This cluster originated from a combined North Shores-Croydon outbreak. That’s the science,” the health minister.
He said it was up to both Victoria and New South Wales working together to get on top of the latest outbreaks.
The state’s testing commander Jeroen Weimar encouraged people who had been able to cross the border to get tested and isolate.
Meanwhile, Tasmania has banned anyone who entered nine exposure sites in Victoria from entering the state.
Anyone who has visited the locations including the Smile Buffalo Thai Restaurant, Royal Brighton Yact Club, the Sons of Mary and the Village Century City won’t be allowed into Tasmania unless they are exempt under essential traveller regulations.
“Get tested and isolate either until you get a negative test result or until 14 days depending on when you crossed the border,” Mr Weimar said on Saturday.
For those unable to get to a testing centre or haven’t been able to get through the queues keep trying but isolate until they are able to get tested, he said.
More than 18,000 had already been tested in the past 24 hours in Victoria.
Across the border New South Wales recorded another seven local cases.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced mask wearing will be compulsory from Monday in shopping centres, public transport, hair and beauty salons and other indoor settings across Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains.
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