Australia closes state border for first time in 100 years to control COVID19 pandemic

SYDNEY (TheHQNews) – The border between Australia’s two most populous states will close from Tuesday for an indefinite period.

The statement was released by Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday after an outbreak of the coronavirus in his state.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, has surged in recent days, prompting authorities to enforce strict social-distancing orders in 30 suburbs and put nine public housing towers into complete lockdown.

The state reported 127 new COVID-19 infections overnight, its biggest one-day spike since the pandemic began. It also reported one death, the first nationally in more than two weeks, taking the country’s total tally to 105.

“It is the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus,” Andrews told reporters in Melbourne as he announced the border closure.

Andrews said the decision to close the border, effective from 11.59 p.m. local time on Tuesday, was made jointly with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Victoria’s only other internal border, with South Australia State, is already closed.

The decision to close border is taken first time during last 100 years  as before such action was taken between the two states in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic.

Like many other countries of the world Australia is also facing serious economic damage due to COVID19 pandemic and it is facing first recession in nearly three decades.