Sir Bob Parker became an inspirational leader during the dark days immediately after the Christchurch earthquakes. Now, Parker faces a challenge of a different kind. Speaking to TVNZ’s Sunday programme, 68-year-old Parker and…

Residents in Darwin and surrounds were given just 90 minutes to prepare for a snap 48-hour lockdown after the Northern Territory recorded four new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.

The 48-hour lockdown applies to people in Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield with the new cases all linked to the Granites gold mine where a worker was diagnosed with having the virus after staying in hotel quarantine in Brisbane.

NT's Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the data is pointing towards the virus being the highly infectious Delta strain.

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

From 1pm on Sunday, residents of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield are only allowed to leave their homes to receive medical care, receive a COVID-19 vaccination, buy essential goods and services, exercise, or provide care to a family member.

Everyone in the lockdown area must wear a mask if they leave their home during the lockdown period.

The Territory has lived largely COVID-free since the pandemic began and the announcement of a lockdown prompted people to flood supermarkets and bottle shops to begin panic buying.

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Mr Gunner said it is a "challenging time" for the Territory.

"It is our biggest test, it is scary and uncertain, I know that," he said.

"This is not something we ever wanted to happen here. We did not want to happen but we have always planned and prepared for the chance that it could happen.

"We have tested this scenario over and over again and we will do the hard things now to stay safe.

"We know how infectious this can be. One case turns to two, two into four, we know what happens.

"I would rather regret us going too hard too early than go too easy and risk it all.

"We know how to beat this. We know how to do the hard things right now, looking down, staying home, to stop this in its track. We will get through this."

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

Mr Gunner urged residents of Darwin and surrounds to take the 48-hour lockdown in their stride, and urged people to be compassionate towards essential workers.

"This is not something we ever wanted to happen here. We did not want to happen but we have always planned and prepared for the chance that it could happen," Mr Gunner said.

"If you are purchasing essential goods, be patient. Treat our essential staff and health workers with respect like you would a police officer. There is no need to panic about goods."

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory's Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has assured Territorians that there are no positive cases in remote communities, despite some rumours on social media.

"I want to assure all remote communities there are no tests returning positive at the moment in your community. We will also ensure there will be police presence in shopping centres," Mr Chalker said.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

Daniel Andrews' wife has described fearing he would die after discovering him turning blue and crippled in pain after a horrific back injury on holiday in regional Victoria.

The Victorian Premier suffered broken ribs and spinal damage after falling on the wet stairs in Sorento, on the Mornington Peninsula, in March this year – but Mr Andrews said he is determined to run for the position of Premier again next year.

In a video message Mr Andrews said he and his family were on a weekend away, where it had been raining, when he slipped on a step heading off to work.

READ MORE: Punters betting on Daniel Andrews' return to work

"As I put my foot on the first step, I knew I was in trouble," he said in the video with his wife Catherine sitting beside him.

"I didn't really connect with the step, it just slid straight off. I became airbourne almost, so I'm horizontal with the step.

"Then all I could hear was this almighty crunch. And that's when I knew… and when I heard the crunch, I thought 'this is serious, we're in trouble here'".

Mr Andrews said his injuries left him unable to breathe, let alone call for help.

"Cath must have heard me groaning in pain. I couldn't yell out. She comes and finds me a few moments later. It felt like an eternity because I couldn't breathe. I could only take shallow breaths in and out," he said.

Mrs Andrews described finding her husband as shocking.

"You were going blue and we were looking at each other and I was thinking you're going to die here in Sorento, at this holiday house and you were looking at me and you felt the same," she said.

Mr Andrews said his wife phoned an ambulance and members of his close personal protection detail.

"I can remember the ambos getting there and they gave me one of those green whistles… but they knew I had broken ribs… so they said, don't breathe on that too hard or it will make you cough," he said.

"But it wasn't until they got a line into my hand and gave me some pretty significant pain relief that things kind of settled."

Mr Andrews offered his thanks to the first responders, saying he was proud and grateful. He also addressed the "vile stories" that were spread around his injury.

Politics isn't always like that. I've got one of the most touching and most important messages that came to me, a text message from (former Victorian Premier) Ted Baillieu on the day of this accident, the evening of that Tuesday," he said.

Mr Andrews said Mr Baillieu shared his experience with recovering from a back injury, and the importance of taking the time to properly heal from an injury.

"He made it really clear to me and us that we needed to take our time and heal properly," Mr Andrews said.

He said the injury had also given him time to remind himself of the things that are important in his life, such as family and representing Victorians.

"I'm coming back this week. I'm fit, I'm strong, I'm healthy," he said.

"I'm on the ballot next year. I'm running, and I'm running to win. There's unfinished business and I'm determined to get it done."

Two men have died following a tandem skydiving incident in NSW's Southern Tablelands.

Emergency services were called about 12.50pm today over concerns an aircraft was in difficulty.

NSW Police said the parachutists fell from the aircraft and landed near the runway of the airport in Goulburn.

Images taken before the tragedy show what appears to be the tandem skydivers tangled underneath the belly of the aircraft.

The pair were found unresponsive and were unable to be revived.

"The circumstances surrounding the incident will be investigated by officers attached to The Hume Police District with the assistance of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau," NSW Police said in a statement.

The victims are yet to be formally identified, though it is believed the passenger and the skydiver are aged in their 30s.

"The company takes safety really seriously and as far as I can see this is an extremely unusual incident," Adrenaline Skydive spokesman Scott Marshall told 9News.

"And really difficult for the family and friends of those involved."

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A third new COVID-19 case has been identified in Queensland.

A miner who had returned from working in the Northern Territory transited through Brisbane Airport on Friday night and travelled to the Sunshine Coast before testing positive on Sunday afternoon, Queensland Health said.

That person was infectious in the community for about one day and contact tracers are currently investigating any venues of concern.

The two earlier community cases of COVID-19 had been infectious in the community for a week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed earlier as she announced new restrictions for the state.

READ MORE: Northern Territory locks down for 48 hours after four new cases

The Brisbane pair had visited "a lot of sites throughout the community" since becoming infectious, including gyms, shopping centres and a workplace on the Sunshine Coast.

From 6am on Monday, a maximum of 10 visitors will be permitted at household gatherings and the two-square metre rule will be reintroduced for venues.

Currently, up to 100 people are allowed inside households in Queensland.

The premier said the restrictions will remain in place for the duration of the two-week lockdown in place across Greater Sydney and its surrounds, as the state works to keep any infections crossing its border.

She also ramped up her message on cross-border travel, urging Queenslanders to avoid going anywhere in New South Wales.

"We have been saying for a week now for people not to go into Sydney, but now we are saying very clearly reconsider any travel to NSW, especially during this lockdown period," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Any residents who have visited Greater Sydney and its surrounds in the previous 14 days will be subject to stay-at-home orders.

READ MORE: NSW records 30 COIVD cases as new 'super-spreader' venue emerges

New cases believed to be Alpha variant

Sunday's first two new local Queensland infections are not thought to be the Delta strain of the virus currently gripping Sydney, but rather the Alpha variant, Ms Palaszczuk said.

However, genome sequencing is still underway.

One of the infected individuals was working at the DFO store at Brisbane Airport when it was visited by an infectious flight attendant last Saturday, but it's not believed that it where they were infected.

Instead, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said health authorities think the person may be linked to a Portuguese restaurant where the woman dined and which has already been confirmed as the source of a number of other infections.

"We know that they are known to friends of some of the people who attended that Portuguese restaurant (where the same woman dined)," Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said.

"So we suspect that's where the linkage has happened."

The new case did not themselves attend the restaurant.

READ MORE: Four new COVID-19 cases in NT prompt 48-hour lockdown

They are being deemed as infectious since last Saturday June 20, while the second case — a member of the first's household — is judged as having become infectious the following day.

Since then, they have visited "a lot of sites throughout the community", Dr Young warned, including gyms, several shopping centres and a workplace on the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Health will update its list of exposure sites with the relevant venues later today.

There has also been one new case detected in the state's hotel quarantine program.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

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

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, an inner-west seafood wholesaler and a number of interstate flights.

READ MORE: Five Virgin flights sent into isolation after crew member tests positive

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It is the highest number of daily cases recorded since the start of the Bondi outbreak, but Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned further increases were likely in the coming days.

"We are seeing that people in isolation, unfortunately, would have already transmitted to all their house contacts," Ms Berejiklian said.

More than 52,000 coronavirus tests were conducted yesterday, down slightly from just over 55,000 the previous day.

LIVE UPDATES: Darwin to go into lockdown as four new cases recorded

The number of cases connected to the burgeoning Bondi cluster now stands at 110, while two other community cases are under investigation.

There is also one new case who caught the virus from a Northern Territory gold mine worker revealed as a positive case yesterday.

The miner is believed to have contracted the virus while in hotel quarantine in Queensland.

That NSW resident has since travelled back to their home in the Hunter New England region of NSW and was in quarantine while infectious.

READ MORE: Two new Queensland cases 'visited a lot of sites' while infectious

One of their household contacts has also since tested positive.

Anyone who worked at the mine in the Northern Territory between June 18 and 26 and returned to NSW should immediately isolate and call NSW Health to arrange urgent testing.

If they have any symptoms, the households of those individuals are also being asked to isolate.

In Sydney, a seafood wholesaler in Marrickville is emerging as a key venue of concern.

Ten of today's 30 new cases are linked to the Great Ocean Foods wholesaler, where two staff members worked while infectious.

NSW Health is upgrading its warning for the distributor.

Anyone who visited the Marrickville site or received a delivery from them at any time from June 21 through to June 25 to immediately isolate, call NSW Health on 1800 943 553 and get tested.

Their household contacts must also isolate with them and await advice from NSW Health.

READ MORE: All the latest Sydney COVID-19 exposure sites

In a separate case, an infected individual went to the vaccination centre at Westmead Hospital, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

She assured people all healthcare workers were wearing masks, social distancing was in place and the area where the person went has been cleaned.

"As a precaution, we are very conservative, we have called the people that attended that vaccine centre in a period before and after the case and also looked at healthcare staff that may have been close contacts," Dr Chant said.

While contact tracers race to trace new infection sources and isolate those exposed, NSW Police is ramping up its crackdown on anyone found breaching lockdown restrictions now in place across Sydney and its surrounds.

Fifteen people were fined for breaches of restrictions, including a group of people who "converged" on a Woolworths in Kellyville, a Sydney family who travelled to the Hunter for a sporting event and an Illawarra cafe owner and staff who refused to wear masks.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

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."

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."

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"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.

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

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