Victoria is still “a long way” from opening its border with NSW after the state’s northern neighbour recorded 18 cases of community transmission.
The new cases have also prompted the Northern Territory to declare the Sydney suburbs of Croydon, Croydon Park, Lilli Pilli, Strathfield, Strathfield North, Strathfield South and Sutherland as hotspots, in addition to the Northern Beaches.
The ACT, meanwhile, will continue current travel restrictions until at least 6 January.
Half of NSW’s new cases belong to the Sydney Northern Beaches cluster, while a second cluster has emerged in the city’s west, along with cases in Wollongong, south of Sydney.
Victoria’s Police Minister Lisa Neville says decisions about the border are being made on a daily basis, but based on health advice no one is ready to contemplate changes.
“We’re still a long way from that border being open,” she said.
Ms Neville wouldn’t rule out extending the red zone, with concern for cases outside the Northern Beaches.
“I know we were concerned about the Wollongong spread and the case there, and that occurred I think through churches, so we’ll continue to monitor this and if we need we’ll extend that red zone,” she said.
Under the Northern Territory’s restrictions, anyone who has been in a declared hotspot in the last fortnight must complete 14 days of supervised quarantine.
The ACT’s rules prevent people from Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and the Wollongong areas from entering, with any returning ACT residents who have visited those areas required to notify authorities and enter quarantine for 14 days.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT would continue to take a risk-based approach to the ongoing situation in Sydney to ensure local restrictions could remain unchanged.
“We have around 1,500 people in quarantine at the moment and there have been literally thousands of people pulled over by ACT police as they come back into the territory,” Mr Barr said on Wednesday.
“We will continue this level of monitoring, advice and activity.”
‘It’s been a very hard year’
Victoria on Wednesday marked 61 days without a local transmission of coronavirus and just one case of a returned traveller in her 20s, who is in hotel quarantine.
There are only eight active cases, all in hotel quarantine or self-isolation, including seven international travellers and a teenager girl at home after contracting the virus in NSW.
Ms Neville acknowledged the effect the border restrictions had on local communities, but said people were largely supportive.
“We all do want to say goodbye to this year, we all do hope that 2021 is a better year,” she said.
“It has been a very hard year and we have done an incredible thing as Victorians – let’s not risk it as we celebrate the end of 2020.”
Despite Victoria’s two-month stretch without local transmission, and an overwhelming desire to see the back of 2020, celebrations for the new year will be muted on Thursday night.
Melbourne fireworks that would draw nearly half a million revellers any other year have been canned in favour of lower-key celebrations than the occasion deserves.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said it was natural people would want to celebrate at the end of a difficult year.
But cancelling the fireworks meant a celebration of the city’s hospitality industry, inspired by European piazzas and squares, could go ahead instead.
Nearly a dozen outdoor dining precincts have been set up across the city, including Hardware Lane, Chinatown, Spring Street and Little Bourke Street.
“We decided to keep our city open, to keep supporting those businesses that really add so much to Melbourne’s character and personality, recognising that for all those business owners and their teams one of the best things we can do to bring in the new year is to show our support for them,” she said.
One thing will remain normal – additional police will be on patrol in uniform and plain clothes, with dogs and horses and on the water.
Victoria had 8731 test results received in the previous 24 hours, nearly 2,000 more than Tuesday.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania
