THE NSW Premier says the government and health authorities in her state anticipate coronavirus cases will emerge around the border because of increased travel.
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Gladys Berejiklian flagged the expectation during an interview with radio 2AY on Thursday, hours after a new public health order came into force allowing free travel in a NSW-Victorian border zone.
"We do expect cases to pop up now through those border communities, only because of the increasing movement and the increasing freedom," Ms Berejiklian said.
"So we just ask people to be extra vigilant, just because we're easing restrictions doesn't mean the virus is any less contagious or that we're in any way immune.
"I ask everybody to keep being careful."
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Asked when the checkpoints on the border would be removed, Ms Berejiklian did not nominate a timeframe or deadline for their dismantling.
She said coronavirus situation overall in Victoria would guide that decision with NSW authorities monitoring case numbers closely.
"I know that everybody wants to see the back of those checkpoints and see do I and we'll keep working really hard to make that happen as soon as we can," Ms Berejiklian said.
"But we have to make sure it's safe."
Ms Berejikilian confirmed the addition of new places to the border zone and the change in rules for travelling across the Murray River.
"Essentially Victorians across the NSW border will be able to do anything that NSW residents can do within those border communities, so hopefully that reduces the stress for people," she said.
"Thank you to the border communities for your patience, secondly please know that every decision we've taken is to keep all of you safe, all of us safe, and thirdly that whenever we can ease restrictions and make life easier of couse we will and today's a good example of that."