SA to close border with NSW

Premier Steven Marshall announced the hard border closure would come into effect just after midnight on New Year’s Day amid growing cases in NSW and Victoria and “disturbing circumstances” with coronavirus globally.Mr Marshall said few exemptions will be made, among them returning SA residents, people permanently moving states, or classes of essential travellers.All those groups will still need to self-isolate for 14 days.A 100km buffer zone will be implemented for cross-border communities, allowing people in Broken Hill and Wentworth to freely enter the state.The move comes as NSW recorded 10 new cases of locally-transmitted COVID-19 up to 8pm on Wednesday night.Victoria recorded three new cases.Earlier on Thursday, Victorians were urged to return home from NSW as soon as possible.Acting Premier Jacinta Allen said people should “strongly reconsider” any planned travel to the state.”This is a quickly changing situation and we don’t want you to be trapped in New South Wales,” she said.”If you are already New South Wales, we want you to come home.”