Canberra residents likely to be locked in the ACT for 'MONTHS' - and might not be able to visit Sydney until 2022
Canberra's Labor chief minister has declared NSW off limits to residents for 'months' - and suggested they should put off any trips to Sydney until 2022.
Andrew Barr says it was unlikely the border to NSW will open anytime soon, with the border to other states likely to open 'from December'.
It comes after the ACT recorded nine new cases on Wednesday, as NSW recorded 919, Australia's highest ever daily increases
'Put it this way, I would not be planning a trip to Sydney in the next few months,' Mr Barr said.
Andrew Barr expects the ACT's border with NSW to remain close for some time
He foreshadowed more movement across borders in December and into 2022 after vaccinations hit 80 per cent targets.
Of the nine cases recorded on Wednesday, eight are linked and four were infectious while in the community.
Health officials remain in high alert that cases numbers could rise into double digits again in the coming days.
Six cases being treated in hospital, including an unvaccinated woman in her 40s who's in intensive care.
Mr Barr has ruled out ending the ACT's lockdown before September 2 but hinted that restrictions are currently being reviewed.
He wants to see no mystery cases or any one in the community while infectious.
'Now is not the time to be significantly easing restrictions,' Mr Barr said.
'We will come out of this gently, week-by-week as we continue to get our vaccination rate up.'
