Paranoid premier flags closing Western Australian border to Victoria MINUTES after first local coronavirus cases in 61 days are announced

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan wasted little time in flagging plans to close the state's border to Victorians, with his government signalling its intention immediately after the eastern state recorded its first cases of locally-transmitted coronavirus in two months.

Two Melbourne women in their 40s and a woman in her 70s tested positive on Wednesday, with at least one of their cases believed to be linked to the Sydney outbreak.

Victoria announced a three further cases on Thursday. 

Western Australia is weighing up shutting the border with Victoria after the state recorded three new coronavirus cases. Pictured: Premier Mark McGowan

Victorian Police are seen patrolling checkpoints in Mallacoota after new border restrictions were placed with NSW, banning residents from Wollongong and the Blue Mountains

A government spokesman said health officials are considering another border shutdown with Victoria in a bid to keep out the virus.

'Currently travel into WA from Victoria under the current controlled interstate border regime remains the same, however, if changes to our border controls are required based on the health advice, they will be made,' the spokesman said.

'Western Australia has always taken an extra cautious approach, to keep our State safe and strong, and we continue to be guided by our expert health advice.'

Western Australia has taken the hardest border stance of any state throughout the pandemic, closing to the whole of New South Wales just two weeks after finally re-opening earlier this month.

Such a stance has boosted Mr McGowan's standing in the polls heading toward the state election on March 21. 

Meanwhile, Victoria will close off its border to residents from Wollongong and the Blue Mountains from midnight. 

And South Australia is also expected to impose tighter restrictions on NSW after the state recorded 18 new cases on Wednesday.

The state's transition committee is expected to consider the 'volatile and changing' situation again on Thursday.

But Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has already urged anyone considering travelling from SA to NSW in coming days to 'very seriously consider whether that travel is essential.'

He said South Australians on holiday or travelling in NSW should also consider returning home as soon as possible.

Tens of thousands of Boxing Day shoppers at a busy Melbourne Westfield have been ordered to isolate after six stores were visited by coronavirus patients 

'The continued spread of cases in New South Wales is of particular concern,' a police statement said.

At present, only people from Sydney's northern beaches are banned from entering SA.

Those from greater Sydney, the Central Coast and the Wollongong region can come but must quarantine for 14 days.

People from other areas of NSW must submit to a Covid-19 test. 

Victoria's three new infections end the state's 61-day streak without any new cases, and all 40 close contacts of the three people have been put into isolation. 

Tens of thousands of Boxing Day shoppers at a busy Melbourne Westfield have been ordered to isolate after six stores were visited by coronavirus patients. 

Six stores in the Fountain Gate shopping centre were visited by an infected shopper during the massive day of sales, including Kmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts, and Lacoste.

Anybody who visited these stores must get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is given. 

Three new coronavirus cases have been recorded in Victoria late on Wednesday (pictured shoppers in Melbourne on Boxing Day)

VICTORIAN VENUES ON ALERT 

Anyone at these locations my get tested immediately and self-isolate until a negative result

Holy Family Parish Doveton Catholic - December 26, 4pm to 6pm

Kmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts, Lacoste at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre - December 26, 9am to 11am

Mentone/Parkdale Beach - December 27, 10am to 4.30pm

Century City Walk and Mocha Jo's, Glen Waverley - December 28, 1.30pm to 5pm

Katialo restaurant, Eaton Mall, Oakleigh - December 28, 7pm to 8:15pm

The women live in Mentone, Mitcham and Hallam, and authorities are scrambling to find out exactly how they were infected. 

The infected people hadn't travelled to NSW recently but are believed to have contracted the virus through close contacts who arrived from north of the border.

People at several other locations around Melbourne must also isolate until they get a negative test result. 

The Holy Family Parish Doveton church and the Parkdale beach were also visited by confirmed cases.

The Century City Walk, Mocha Jo's and the Katialo restaurant were also visited by infected residents. 

There are seven active cases in hotel quarantine in Victoria and a 15-year-old girl who is isolating at home after testing positive upon returning from NSW. 

The news comes as the state tightens its border restrictions with NSW after 18 new cases were recorded on Wednesday.

From 11.59pm on New Year's Eve, Victoria will shut its borders to anyone from the Blue Mountains and Wollongong. 

Anyone who has visited these areas since December 27 have until the specified time to enter the state without being locked out. 

'These new border measures have been introduced in response to 18 new cases of Covid-19 being reported in NSW, including six from a new cluster in the inner-west of Sydney,' a statement from the state's health department read.

'The situation is highly dynamic and the red zone may continue to change at short notice - therefore Victorians are strongly advised not to travel to New South Wales as you may not be able to re-enter without undertaking hotel quarantine for 14 days.

'Anyone intending to return to Victoria from these areas between midnight tonight and 11.59pm on December 31 must apply for a new travel permit through Service Victoria, must get tested within 24 hours of returning to Victoria, and must self-quarantine at home for 14 days from when they last left the region.'  

The Westfield at Fountain Gate shopping centre was visited by infected shoppers on Boxing Day who went inside six different stores