Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that the state will close borders to all of Greater Sydney from 1 am Saturday. 

“No one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland,” she tweeted. The Premier announced that from Saturday, a further 31 local government areas will be added to the list of hotspots.

Three areas in south-west Sydney — Fairfield, Liverpool and Cambelltown— have already been declared hotspots. Queenslanders returning from greater Sydney after Saturday will be required to do two weeks in hotel quarantine at their own expense.

“We do not want a second wave here. We do not want widespread community transmission,” Premier Palaszczuk announced.

NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty has expressed that although the state is making good progress in containing the coronavirus outbreaks, he is wary that the spike could escalate out of control quickly.

“We’re at a knife’s edge, a very critical point” Dr McAnulty shared in a press briefing earlier today.

Officials are currently working to control a cluster in Sydney’s inner east suburb of Potts Point — linked to the restaurant’s The Apollo and Thai Rock. As well as an outbreak linked to the Australian Cruising Yacht Club, and a cluster in the city’s south-west.

“We have been able to link the cases together which means we can understand the transmissions dynamics,” Dr McAnulty shared of the Potts Point cluster.

McAnulty has encouraged anyone experience coronavirus symptoms to get tested.

“Any symptoms at all, come forward. We want to look after you but also to prevent the transmission of the virus,” he shared.

“Don’t assume if you have symptoms of a cold that you’ve just got a cold, it could be COVID. Don’t put yourself and your family at risk. Come forward and get tested.”

New South Wales recorded 19 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Two of those cases are in hotel quarantine.

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