NSW Health has performed a record number of coronavirus tests and returned just two new cases, as the Premier has again attacked hard border closures across Australia.
It comes as the Northern Territory's Chief Minister announced borders will reopen in a month after declaring COVID-19 was officially eradicated in that state.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was pleasing to see so many people get tested for COVID-19.Credit:Nick Moir
Two more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in NSW on Thursday morning after 17,392 people were tested. "I’m so pleased we had a record number of tests in the last 24 hours," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Thursday.
She noted the cases were confirmed in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
"We can’t be complacent at all, please please do not let your guard down," Ms Berejiklian said.
"We’ve seen elsewhere if people let their guard down if people don’t come forward and get tested when they have the milder symptoms, breakouts can occur."
Ms Berejiklian’s comments came as Victoria recorded 18 new cases, including 12 of community transmission. One of those cases of community transmission was in a person who attended Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter rally on June 6. Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said it was unlikely that person was infectious during the protest.
"Clearly, we do have community transmission in Victoria and I want to reiterate the message to Victorians to take this issue seriously," Ms Mikakos said on Thursday.
"They're the ones that we're most concerned about, because it means we don't know where the source of the acquisition is."
While Ms Berejiklian said what has happened in Victoria with a spike in cases could happen in NSW, that was not a reason to keep borders shut.
"I think it’s ridiculous in this day and age given how we’ve handled the virus across the nation that state borders continue to be there that aren’t official," she said.
"I think it’s high time that people acknowledge if you have confidence in your health system … you shouldn’t have your borders up."
Despite the positive tests elsewhere, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced its borders will reopen in four weeks, and rubbished other states’ plans for limited travel bubbles.
"After careful consideration, and listening to the health advice, we will not be creating any travel bubbles," he said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, South Australia Premier Steven Marshall announced the state would reopen its borders effective from midnight that day, but only to travellers from West Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Travellers from other states must still quarantine for 14 days.
Calling the Northern Territory "the safest place in Australia without question," Mr Gunner said their success in officially eradicating the coronavirus means they can open to travellers from around the country on July 17.
"That gives the rest of Australia four weeks' notice, and that gives Territorians four more weeks to get ready," Mr Gunner said. It also gives the Territory two more replication cycles of the virus to ensure there is no more virus in the community.
Ms Berejiklian said NSW would continue to welcome travellers from any states.
"We just have to be extra vigilant, we have to make sure that we control the spread," she said.
with Melissa Cunningham
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Rachel Clun is a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald.
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2020-06-18 07:18:42Z
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