Australia closes state border between New South Wales and Victoria as coronavirus cases surge

The southern border between Australia's two most populous states will close tonight as the Government attempts to manage a surge of coronavirus cases in Melbourne.

From midnight on Tuesday, the border between New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria will close for an indefinite period of time.

It comes after Victoria recorded 127 new cases within a 24-hour period, the state's highest ever daily case Covid-19 increase. It also reported two new deaths taking the total death toll to 106.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her Government's decision to close its border marks a new phase in the country's coronavirus pandemic.

She said: “What is occurring in Victoria has not yet occurred anywhere else in Australia.

"It’s a new part of the pandemic and, as such, it requires a new type of response.”

The move marks the first time the border has closed between NSW and Victoria in 100 years. It was last closed in 1919 due to the Spanish flu pandemic.

The overwhelming majority of new cases detected in Melbourne in recent weeks were from community transmission.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters in Melbourne: "It is the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus."

Victoria locked down nine public housing towers and three more Melbourne suburbs after 108 new cases on Saturday.

Speaking at the time Mr Andrews said 3,000 people in the towers would go into “hard lockdown,” meaning “there will be no one allowed in … and no one allowed out”.

Ms Berejiklian said everywhere else in Australia, the vast majority of cases were infected overseas or had been infected by a returned traveller.

She added that some flights and trains services would continue for travellers who are given permits and exemptions.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said the military would provide strict surveillance to enforce the border closure.

It comes after Spain has introduced two local lockdowns in La Marina and El Segria due to a spike in infections.

More than 70,000 people in La Marina, north of Lugo in Galicia, were barred from leaving the area from midnight on Sunday, except in exceptional circumstances.

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