Australia closes state border for first time in 100 years to halt coronavirus

The border between Australia's two most populous states will close from Tuesday for an indefinite period, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday. Andrews said the decision to close the border was made jointly with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New South Wales (NSW) Premier. The decision marks the first time the border with neighboring NSW has been shut in 100 years.

Victoria's only other internal border, with South Australia state, is already closed. 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.