NSW braces for a second wave: Gladys Berejiklian warns residents another coronavirus outbreak will hit the state as Victoria locks down 36 suburbs
- Victoria is suffering a second wave of coronavirus with 36 suburbs locked down
- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said second wave could hit the state soon
- 'There is no doubt we will get a spike,' she told Sunrise on Thursday morning
Gladys Berejiklian has warned New South Wales residents that a second wave of coronavirus could hit the state at any time.
In an interview on Sunrise on Thursday morning, the premier said residents must remain vigilant as Victoria battles an outbreak by locking down 36 north Melbourne suburbs.
'There is no doubt in my mind that during the course of the pandemic, we will get a spike,' she said.
'It is about how you deal with it.'
Ms Berejiklian said she was not considering shutting the border with Victoria because she had not received health advice to do so.
'Keeping the borders open is the right thing to do,' she said.
However, New South Wales has banned people from the 36 Melbourne suburbs.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said anyone from those areas caught in NSW could face six months in jail and an $11,000 fine from 11.59pm on Wednesday.
New South Wales residents are allowed to return home from those hotspots but must isolate at home for 14 days.
Mr Hazzard said he was 'still working through' how police will enforce the rule - but said one option would be to quiz drivers with Victorian licence plates on where they have been.
There are no plans for border checkpoints.
Military personnel are seen conducting testing at the new mobile testing site in Melbourne
This map shows the suburbs which will be subject to stay-at-home orders from Wednesday at 11.59pm after a spike in coronavirus cases
Queensland announced a similar policy on Tuesday and went further by requiring residents returning from those hotspots to pay for two-week hotel quarantine before being allowed home.
There will be exemptions such as to obtain urgent medical care or for compassionate reasons.
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In the past two weeks, NSW has reported only three locally acquired cases of the virus. Dozens of overseas travellers in hotel quarantine have tested positive, including 14 on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, restrictions on entertainment venues, weddings, community sport and other gatherings have been eased in NSW but strict physical distancing measures remain in place.
Mr Hazzard said businesses should ensure they have a COVID Safety Plan outlining exactly how they will maintain a safe environment for their staff and customers.
The Victorian government has re-imposed stay-at-home orders for 36 suburbs in ten postcodes after recording 212 new cases of the deadly virus in three days.
After just four weeks of freedom, those residents will be banned from leaving their homes except for work and school, food shopping, giving care and daily exercise.
Restaurants, gyms, pubs and all other non-essential services in the suburbs must once again close their doors. Affected businesses will be compensated with a government cash grant of $5,000.
Residents from the ten postcodes will not be allowed to go on holiday and the government will announce a support package for affected tourism businesses tomorrow.
The lockdown will last for four weeks and come into force from 11.59pm on Wednesday. Police will be enforcing the orders with random vehicle checks similar to random breath tests and will dish out on-the-spot fines.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the lockdown was 'deeply painful' and 'damaging for businesses' but insisted that it was necessary.
'If we don't take these steps now we will be locking down every postcode,' he said.
The curve in Victoria has skyrocketed over the past couple of weeks as coronavirus infections continue to grow from within the suburbs of Melbourne
