New South Wales is officially shutting its border with Victoria from midnight tomorrow (July 7).
The state government has declared that the current spike in coronavirus infections means that it must protect people in NSW from a similar fate.
While the vast majority of cases are coming from suburbs in Melbourne, NSW authorities are trying to prevent anyone from Victoria from crossing the border.
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement: "That closure will be enforced on the NSW side, so as not to drain on resources that are very much focused on fighting the virus right now across our state.
"I am grateful to the Premier of NSW for her support in giving affect to that.
"This is one of those precautionary measures, it is one of those things that I think will help us in broader terms to contain the spread of the virus."
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"[It] is the product of a joint decision and an agreement between the Prime Minister, myself and the Premier of New South Wales, one that I think is the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus."
There were 127 new cases announced today and 182 over the weekend in Victoria.
People wanting or needing to go from Victoria into New South Wales will require a permit to do so, with more details to follow.
More Australian Defence Force personnel will be deployed to help Victoria deal with its outbreak of coronavirus cases. They will assist in door-knocking properties to ensure they are remaining socially distant from others or testing.
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Premier Andrews said in a press conference: "There are a couple hundred of ADF staff who are here now or on the way - taking over some of the mass testing sites which then allows some Victorian staff to go off and do other things, whether it's testing in these high-rise towers or other settings where people can't leave their home."
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