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Aussie state 'builds wall' to stop people sneaking across border

Queensland is ‘building a wall’ along a portion of its New South Wales border to stop people from sneaking across as Australia battles a surge in coronavirus cases.

The state is launching a crackdown on people entering from southern states after Queensland officials declared Sydney’s Campbelltown and Liverpool to be coronavirus hotspots on Tuesday.

Residents coming from the areas will join Victorians in being turned away at the border.

Construction workers are seen placing thee crash barriers in place along the Queensland and NSW border. Source: 7News
Queensland is ‘building a wall’ along its NSW border to stop people from sneaking across. Source: 7News

Police officials have since asked the Gold Coast council to build a 700-metre barricade to stop people from trying to enter unlawfully, according to 7News.

The fence of crash barriers will sit on the border in Coolangatta.

Gold Coast chief superintendent Mark Wheeler told the publication people were “encroaching across the fencing that was there”.

“I understand people are frustrated, but by doing that they’re actually breaking the law,” he said.

Police stop motorists crossing the Qld-NSW border to check to for permits at Griffith Street checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast. Source: AAP
The state is launching a crackdown after Queensland officials declared Sydney’s Campbelltown and Liverpool to be coronavirus hotspots. Source: AAP

Queensland dodges Crossroad Hotel outbreak

The state has so far managed to avoid a surge in COVID-19 cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel, NSW, outbreak.

Nineteen people approached Queensland officials to be tested for the virus after visiting the pub in southwestern Sydney between July 3 and 10.

All have returned negative results but will be tested again once they complete their 14 days of isolation.

A popular spot for travellers, NSW Health confirmed the pub's "patient zero" was a Melbourne freight company employee who visited on July 3 for a work party.

More than 30 people - patrons, staff, close contacts and contacts of contacts - have since caught the virus in NSW as a result.

A general view of traffic congestion on the Gold Coast Highway the day the Queensland border reopened. Source: Getty Images
Hundreds of cars queue on the Gold Coast Highway the day the Queensland border reopened. Source: Getty

It comes as NSW desperately tries to get the outbreak under control while Victoria records hundreds of new cases each day.

Queensland has been community transmission-free since May, and authorities are urging anyone who visited the pub to come forward and be tested so it remains that way.

There were no new cases on Thursday, with only four people still sick with the illness.

with AAP

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