
NSW cluster prompts tougher restrictions.
Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia have toughened interstate travel restrictions in response to the latest NSW coronavirus cluster, and other states may follow.
The NSW Northern Beaches cluster grew to 28 cases on Friday, prompting worries state borders could slam shut again just before Christmas.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced 10 additional cases on Friday.
Since 8pm last night, NSW Health has recorded a total of ten new locally acquired cases who will be included in tomorrow’s numbers. Of these new cases:
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 18, 2020
The Queensland government has banned anyone who has been in the NSW Northern Beaches region since December 11 from visiting aged care homes, hospitals or prisons in Queensland.
The West Australian government says anyone arriving from NSW is required to self-quarantine for 14 days and get tested on day 11.
Read more: What we know about Sydney's Northern Beaches COVID-19 cluster.
WA leader Mark McGowan announced the changes on Thursday evening after receiving the latest advice from NSW.
"I understand these changes will cause some frustration and uncertainty for some people," he said.
Tasmania has already moved to prevent people who visited high-risk locations in NSW from travelling there.
Northern Territory authorities said anyone from the northern beaches area travelling to the NT will need to undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine in either Alice Springs or Darwin.
The NT CHO has declared the Northern Beaches LGA in Sydney a hotspot. Anyone arriving in the NT from there from midnight will need to enter 2weeks mandatory quarantine. Anyone who has arrived on or after 11 December must self isolate & arrange COVID test. @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/A8k9GI5yWF
— Kathleen Gazzola (@kathleengazzola) December 17, 2020