Queensland will make a decision on whether to reopen the state's border to all of New South Wales at the end of the month as authorities closely monitor contact tracing efforts.
Health Minister Steven Miles said it was "disappointing" to hear the New South Wales Government had "effectively given up on the goal of 28 days of no unlinked transmission".
The Queensland Government has demanded NSW record 28 days of no unknown community transmission before the border would reopen.
Speaking this morning, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she took offence to Mr Miles' comments.
"I find that comment really offensive to be honest," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Our aim has always been to have zero community transmission. That's why all of us work day and night, and have been battling for months and months to get to that aspiration.
"The other question is, is it realistic for 28 days, in a state the size of New South Wales, when we have an open economy?
It comes as Queensland reached 28 days without community transmission with the state recording another day of zero new coronavirus cases.
Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said authorities "need to wait a bit longer" before deciding whether there is a need to change the planned November border reopening to New South Wales.
Dr Young said New South Wales had "extremely good" contact tracing capability and authorities would continue to monitor the situation south of the border.
"We use that 28 days of no unlinked community cases to assist us in determining whether it's safe. At that point in time, at the end of the month, to open to another state and that has stood us very, very well in Queensland," she said.
"They do have a concern which they're well aware of and well on top of at the Liverpool hospital and also at a private clinic."
Dr Young confirmed there was only one case which had an unknown link in NSW.
"Although they [New South Wales] are finding the contacts ... they are getting continuing cases so we will just have to watch and see what happens," Dr Young said.
"We also want to see significant testing. There's no point having a bland 28-days of no community acquired unlinked cases if you don't have testing in place.
"They also have sewerage testing, which is proved to be a very useful strategy."
Four active cases remain across the state.
Meanwhile, she said brain cancer patient Gary Ralph would be able to isolate at home subject to conditions.
"I asked one of the senior doctors at the PA mission to travel to and from the hotel for medical appointments via a taxi or rideshare service, but only if he sat in the back seat.
"There are a few conditions on that — I've asked for an urgent COVID test to be done on him and his partner this morning.
"We're waiting on those results, if those are negative we've organised an ambulance to assist him."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEwLTA5L2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXF1ZWVuc2xhbmQtY2FzZXMtYm9yZGVyLXJlb3BlbmluZy1uc3ctZGVjaXNpb24vMTI3NDMwODTSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI3NDMwODQ?oc=5
2020-10-09 00:44:00Z
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