Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced her state will close its borders to all of greater Sydney.
“From 1am Saturday, more hotspots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland,” said the premier on Twitter.
“Queensland residents returning will have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days at their own expense,” she added in a separate tweet.
BREAKING: Queensland will close its borders to all of Greater Sydney. From 1am Saturday, more hotspots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland. #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/044iZeTZ1g
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 29, 2020
Queensland’s border is set to be shut to Victoria and greater Sydney until community transmission is under control.
It comes as NSW authorities announced 19 new cases in the state in the 24 hours to 8.00pm yesterday.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said Palaszczuk did not inform her greater Sydney would be declared a COVID-19 hotspot by Queensland.
“It would have been nice if she told me,” Berejiklian said.
Meanwhile, Queensland reported two new cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday. Two 19-year-old women tested positive after returning from interstate.
“They both travelled together recently, including returning to Brisbane from Melbourne on the 21 July via Sydney,” Queensland health minister Steven Miles said.
“They travelled on flights VA 863 and VA 977.”
There is a criminal investigation underway into how the women managed to return to Queensland without entering quarantine.
The last cases recorded by the state were on 24 July.
