Victoria will shut its border to all NSW residents from midnight tomorrow night.
Acting Premier, Jacinta Allan made the announcement just minutes ago, after the state recorded a further two cases this afternoon – marking a total of five new cases for today, following three confirmed cases yesterday.
“These two new cases are close contacts of the cases known to date,” Ms Allan said.
She said more than 70 close contacts of confirmed cases were now in isolation.
“In light of this new information, and on the advice of our public health team, I’m here to advise that from 11.59pm from January 1, Victoria will be closing its borders to the entire state of NSW.”
“This is not an easy choice to make and certainly not one we wanted to be making on a day that’s supposed to be about celebrating.
“Unfortunately the virus doesn’t expire at midnight tonight and we have to remain vigilant and lock in the situation we have here in Victoria, particular in light of the case numbers coming out of NSW.”
She said the Government wanted to give time to Victorians visiting NSW to make it home before the border closed.
“Any Victorians who are coming home will need to take a test and go into isolation for 14 days,” she said.
“This may cause disruption for Victorians who may be holidaying, we apologise for that disruption.”