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SA shuts borders to two states, two territories over COVID fears

South Australia will close its border to two states and two territories as the coronavirus situation in Australia has "seriously deteriorated".

SA Premier Steven Marshall said the state will close its border to Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT effective immediately.

"We know that there has been a very significant deterioration in the situation around Australia with a very dangerous Delta variant," Mr Marshall said.

READ MORE: Four new COVID-19 cases in the Northern Territory spark 48-hour lockdown

"We need to take decisive action here in South Australia."

NSW today recorded 30 new community cases of COVID-19. All of today's new cases have been linked to existing clusters but 19 were not in isolation while infectious.

The new infections have sparked concerns around potential exposures at a major western Sydney Hospital, inner-west seafood wholesaler and a number of interstate flights.

Mr Marshall said the NSW situation was "concerning" and pleaded with anyone experiencing symptoms of the virus to get tested.

Three cases in returned travellers were recorded in SA today, all of whom are in medi-hotels.

Mr Marshall said the only people from those states allowed into SA were people permanently relocating to South Australia, South Australians returning home, or those people who are escaping domestic or family violence, or people who are essential travellers and have received an exemption from SA health authorities.

The Premier said arrangements with border communities remained in place.

"The arrangements with New South Wales remain as they were over the weekend, with the 100km buffer along the New South Wales South Australia border," he said.

READ MORE: NSW records 30 new COVID-19 cases on first day of lockdown

He said requirements for people entering SA from Greater Melbourne now applied to all Victorians.

"With Victoria, we continue with the arrangement where we're asking people from greater Melbourne to be tested on arrival and to isolate before that test is taken," he

"We now extend that to the whole of Victoria."

Mr Marshall said the Delta variant of the virus was of major concern.

"There's nothing neat and tidy about a global pandemic. I know it will be disrupting many long-standing arrangements people have had in place," he said.

"The consequences of not being decisive, not taking action – could be disastrous for us in South Australia.

"This Delta variant is highly transmissible, it is very dangerous, we don't want it in South Australia.

"By moving quickly, by moving decisively, by moving proactively, we give ourselves the best shot of not having a prolonged lockdown in South Australia like we're now seeing around other parts of the country.

"We've seen it in Victoria recently, now, in Greater Sydney, and now of course we have just seen today the Northern Territory has moved.

READ MORE: New restrictions introduced for Queensland as two community COVID-19 cases uncovered

"We have seen a massive increase in restrictions placed on people in Queensland and Western Australia as everybody around the country is moving to stop the spread of this very dangerous strain."

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the border closures were necessary in combating the Delta strain.

"What everyone needs to be aware of, in Australia at the moment, this Delta strain is very, very transmissible," she said.

"It's very easily passed from person to person, even with very brief contact with other people.

"So this is the time to think about reducing your movements and not mixing with large numbers of people who you don't know – and that's a message right across Australia."

READ MORE: Restrictions announced for Perth after woman returning from Sydney tests positive to COVID-19

Professor Spurrier said SA had been fortunate in controlling the virus but the state must remain vigilant.

"Now, we've been very fortunate in South Australia that out of all of the jurisdictions we haven't had any recent community transmission, likewise Tasmania and the ACT," she said.

"But we are now surrounded by states and other jurisdictions where they have active community transmission of this very transmissible strain.

"And this is the reason why we are putting these border restrictions in place, and also later this afternoon the police commissioner and I and our team will sit down and look at other things that we feel are important to have in place in our community."

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WA tightens border over COVID fears

Western Australia will tighten its border controls with parts of the country as eastern states battle a rampant COVID-19 outbreak.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the state will upgrade its border controls restrictions on Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT from 6pm on Sunday (8pm AEST).

He said those travelling to Perth will need to be tested and quarantine for 14 days.

"The situation is very concerning around the country with NSW of most concern," Mr McGowan said.

"But also given the high number of contacts from the Northern Territory gold mine that have travelled to different parts of Australia."

https://twitter.com/Tracy_Vo/status/1409069554714611719

"As a result of the worsening situation we are upgrading our border controls to do everything we can do protect our state."

Mr McGowan said the restrictions meant Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT would join Victoria on the "low risk setting".

"I know these immediate changes will cause significant disruption for many people, especially the school holidays. But we just cannot afford to take any chances," he said.

"These changes to our border arrangements are a safe and sensible response to the alarming outbreaks we're seeing over east."

Mr McGowan warned If the situation worsened in coming hours and days, he would not shy away from locking down the state.

"Lockdowns and restrictions are not the long term strategy, vaccination is," he said.

New South Wales today recorded 30 new community cases of COVID-19 as Greater Sydney and surrounds began their first full day of lockdown.

All of those new cases have been linked to existing clusters but 19 were not in isolation while infectious.

WA waiting on more than 100 tests

Mr McGowan said the state's health authorities were awaiting the outcome of 186 COVID-19 tests from workers with possible links to the Tanami mine.

A worker at the Northern Territory gold mine tested positive for coronavirus, sending hundreds of employees into isolation and sparking concern over hundreds of other workers who had already left the site.

WA Health confirmed there had been three flights to Perth between June 18 and 25 carrying 252 workers from the mine site.

"We now have 186 people who will be required to be tested and required to self-isolate," Mr McGowan said.

He said of the 186 people, 173 of them are in quarantine or have been tested. So far, 61 had returned negative results.

"That is pleasing but we are still waiting on the results on the testing of more than 100 people," he said.

WA records one new case

Perth and Peel are under a range of new restrictions following a positive coronavirus case in a woman who entered Western Australia from Sydney.

Health Minister Roger Cook confirmed the latest infection on Sunday morning and said the woman aged in her 50s had been out in the community while infectious for three days.

From midday, Perth and Peel moved to strict measures, including masks being required indoors and on public transport.

READ MORE: Four new COVID-19 cases in the Northern Territory spark 48-hour lockdown

A 150-person cap for public events has been introduced and private gatherings will be capped at 30 people.

Several major events have been cancelled including the Chicken and Beer Festival in Perth, while no crowds will be allowed at Sunday afternoon's AFL match between West Coast and the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.

Mr Cook said authorities believed the woman caught the highly infectious Delta strain of COVID-19.

The woman travelled to Sydney on June 15 and was in the Bondi area on June 18.

She visited the Life Café in Bondi on June 19 and returned to Perth with her husband on June 20.

READ MORE: NSW records 30 new COVID-19 cases on first day of lockdown

She returned a negative result on June 21 but started to develop symptoms on June 24.

She tested positive overnight.

The woman is a physiotherapist who had treated patients, visited a primary school and a pub, Mr Cook said.

Mr McGowan said the woman, known as case 1022, is in self-isolation and is assisting the state's contact tracing team. Her husband has returned a negative test result.

He said as a precaution, Connolly Primary School and Burbridge School in Koondoola will both be closed on Monday for deep cleaning.

Optus Stadium West Coast Eagles

Restrictions explained

From midday on Sunday, the following rules will apply to Perth and Peel for the next three days:

  • Mandatory masks: Masks must be worn at all indoor public venues, on public transport and outdoors when unable to socially distance
  • No large public events: Events of more than 150 people will be cancelled or played without crowds from today. This includes the AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Western Bulldogs
  • Household limits: No more than 30 people will be permitted to gather inside homes
  • Two-square metre rule is back: Hospitality venues, entertainment venues including casinos, places of worship, retail, gyms, swimming pools and hairdressers can all remain open but must abide by the two-square-metre rule
  • Weddings and funerals: These events can proceed but are limited to a maximum of 150 people
  • Community sport is allowed to continue.
  • Hospital visits: A maximum of four visitors will be permitted to visit patients in hospital each day and mask wearing is mandatory for all staff and visitors.
  • Travel to remote Aboriginal communities is restricted.

Timeline of woman's infection

The gap between the Perth physiotherapist's visit to a Bondi café and it being listed as an exposure site by NSW Health is to blame for the woman potentially spreading the infection in the Perth community, according to Mr Cook.

The woman in her 50s "did nothing wrong" and abided by all public health advice upon her return to Western Australia, including getting tested for COVID-19, Mr Cook said.

That initial test returned a negative result.

Here's a breakdown of the woman's movements from the time she left Perth:

  • June 15 – began her trip and spent time outside of the Sydney area
  • June 18 – went to Sydney and spent time in the Bondi area visiting her son
  • June 19 – had lunch at Lyfe Café in Bondi with her son and husband
  • June 20 – returned to Perth
  • June 21 – returned negative test result so was permitted to return to community, as per WA's border restrictions at the time
  • June 22-23 – worked as a physiotherapist and visited a school, a gym and a brewery
  • June 24 – started developing symptoms
  • June 25 – she did not go to work or leave home; she realised that the Lyfe Café in Bondi has been listed as an exposure site and arranged testing
  • June 26 – got tested for COVID-19; positive result came back positive late that night
headline

Tesla recalls nearly 300,000 cars in China over safety issue

Tesla began recalling more than 285,000 vehicles in China on Saturday over a safety risk concerning the vehicle's cruise control feature.

The cruise control system in certain models can be activated when drivers try to shift gears or accidentally touch the gear selector, resulting in accidental acceleration, according to China's State Administration for Market Regulation.

The recall includes 35,665 imported Model 3 vehicles and 249,855 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles made in Tesla's factory in Shanghai. Customers will not be required to return the vehicles. Instead, they will receive a free software update either remotely or in-person to resolve the issue.

READ MORE: Engineer raised concerns about major structural damage at Florida building years before collapse

Tesla apologised for the recall on Saturday in a statement posted on its official Weibo account, one of China's most popular social media sites. Tesla said it will keep improving in accordance with China's safety regulations.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our car owners. In the meantime, Tesla will strictly follow national regulations and keep improving our safety protection, adamantly providing an excellent and safe driving experience to our customers," the automaker said.

READ MORE: Q&A explainer: Everything you need to know about the lockdown for Greater Sydney

China has proven to be a difficult market for Tesla. The company has had five Chinese regulatory agencies questioning the quality of its Shanghai-made Model 3 cars.

The electric car leader sold fewer than 26,000 cars in China in April, down 27 per cent from March, according to figures released by the China Passenger Car Association.

The drop came as Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers such as Nio (NIO), Xpeng, and Li Auto, all reported improved domestic sales.