Queensland closes border to ACT and NSW from Saturday

The announcement came alongside reports people from parts of Sydney declared COVID-19 hotspots by Queensland were entering via the ACT.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Wednesday the state borders would close to NSW and the ACT from 1am Saturday as both jurisdictions have been declared hotspots.

Queenslanders returning from the ACT or NSW will have to pay for 14-days mandatory hotel quarantine.

"There have been a large number of active cases in Victoria, and we are continuing to see cases in NSW. This is a very concerning situation," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"We cannot risk a second wave. We have to act decisively and today we have acted quickly. We have put Queenslanders first."

Ms Palaszczuk said the ACT had to be included in the closure after a NSW resident travelled via Canberra to Queensland, "putting everything we have in Queensland at risk," she said.

Visitors will be denied entry except for "rare" exemptions.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said some people were flying to the state via the ACT to avoid the imposed lockdown on people from COVID-19 hotspots.

Queensland reported one new case of coronavirus on Wednesday.

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