In Australia, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the border with NSW and the ACT will be closed from 1am on August 8.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Palaszczuk said both jurisdictions presented a "concerning situation" which lead to the decision to close the border from this Saturday.
"In NewSouth Wales, we are continuing to see cases each day, and this is of great concern to Queensland," she said.
"I can now confirm that our chief health officer is declaring New South Wales and the ACT a hot spot. This will take immediate effect from Saturday. This is the right thing to do. I know it's going to be tough on Queenslanders. But your health comes first."
The announcement comes as the state of Queensland reports one new case of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the state's active cases to 11.
"We need to protect not only our health, we need to protect the families, we need to protect our economy," she said.
"We've seen what's happened in Victoria. We don't want to see that happening here."
The Queensland government last week announced that they would ban anyone from Greater Sydney from entering the Sunshine State, saying the decision was in response to the growing number of clusters in NSW.
"I will not risk the safety of Queenslanders," Palaszczuk said, noting residents were "at risk" if a hard border wasn't put in place.
"And I will not risk our economy. We have seen that Victoria is not getting better, and we're not going to wait for New South Wales to get worse. We need to act."
"Today is the day that I say to Queenslanders, we have listened to you. We are concerned about what is happening in the southern states. And today is the day that we say we are putting Queenslanders first.
"This is a life and death situation here," she said. "... Look what's happening in Victoria. People can't even see their loved ones who are dying in nursing homes."
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Australia was "experiencing a second wave of Covid-19" which they didn't want to see sweep into Queensland.
"We are doing the right thing to keep Queenslanders safe," he said. "This is a hard closure. The road border between Queensland and NSW will be closed to all but a limited number of exemptions, freight and those who live in border communities."
It is understood people entering the state will have to show photo identification and Queenslanders who are interstate have been told they should come home. Those living in a border community will be eligible for an exemption pass, but photographic ID would be required.
"As of 1am Saturday, Queenslanders coming home will have to fly into Queensland and if they have cars, organise alternative arrangements," Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.
