Another 73 coronavirus cases have been recorded in Victoria as suburbs head into localised lockdown and those in hotspots face six months in jail and an $11,000 fine if they enter NSW.
Three of the new cases are from hotel quarantine, nine are associated with known and contained outbreaks, 19 were found through routine testing and 42 remain under investigation by the public health team, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Wednesday.
Dozens of suburbs re-enter lockdown from midnight tonight as a result of the community outbreak and two weeks of double-digit case numbers.
As cases in Victoria rise, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said residents from Victorian hot spots are “not welcome” in NSW and face an $11,000 fine and six months in prison.
Mr Hazzard added that any NSW residents who visit Victorian hot spots will also be liable for $11,000 fines and a prison stint.
“Certainly the Victorian situation should be taken very seriously by everyone in NSW. The particular suburbs that have been announced by the Victorian government, must be avoided,” he said.
“You will be liable to the same penalties as any Victorian. But if you choose to go there and come back you have to isolate for 14 days and if you breach there can be an up to $11,000 fine and 6 months jail.
“Victorian’s right now from those hot spots are not welcome in NSW. We are sorry. If you come to NSW you will he exposed to the possibility of 6 months jail and $11,000 fines.”
NSW has recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours – with all of those cases being returned travellers.
Among those impacted by Victoria’s “second wave” is National broadcaster SBS, which closed its Melbourne office on Wednesday after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend.
The office was closed and sanitised on Sunday, but has closed again today for additional sanitisation as per updated information from the health department.
The staff member last worked in the office on Thursday 25 June, and close contacts are self-isolating.
“As an additional precautionary measure, a number of staff have been directed to self-quarantine for two weeks on direction of the Victorian health authorities,” an SBS spokesperson said.
