New South Wales closes border with Victoria: the latest.
Coronavirus cases have been rising in Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, over the last several days, forcing authorities to enforce strict social-distancing orders in 30 suburbs and put nine public housing towers into complete lockdown.
127 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported today in Victoria, and 182 over the weekend.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has given strict instructions to residents to not allow “anyone from a hotspot in Melbourne or from greater Melbourne to come into your home.”
People from affected Victorian postcodes found in NSW could face up to six months jail time and a fine of $11,000. The same rules are required for NSW residents visiting Melbourne suburbs.
“It’s not something we want to do but we must do for our own safety,” NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said last week.
“As soon as you set foot in NSW, you’ll be exposed to the possibility of six months in jail and $11,000 fine,” he said of any Victorians from the areas planning to “slip across” the border.
“So take it seriously, take it very, very seriously.”
READ MORE: Police set up suburban checkpoints to contain Melbourne virus hotspots.
