Travellers returning to New South Wales from Victoria are now being checked at the airport amid concerns of interstate spread from Melbourne hotzone outbreaks.
People from the city's virus hotspots were last night banned from entering NSW.
The new orders came into place at midnight meaning anybody who breaks the new rules could be slapped with a $11,000 fine and face jail time.
https://twitter.com/BradHazzard/status/1278452169662840832?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwREAD MORE: Coronavirus Melbourne: 'Throw the book at them' says Health Minister over hotel quarantine failings
It is the first time during the coronavirus pandemic NSW has installed border controls on other states.
Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, shared photos of workers doing checks at Sydney Airport and an XPT regional train station.
He said on Twitter: "NSW Health staff commenced screening passengers from Victoria this morning at NSW Airports and XPT train station following new Health Orders made at midnight. New penalties apply to travellers from Melbourne Covid19 hotspots!"
Earlier, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said details of how the checks would work were still being discussed.
"We are definitely going to do those checks but please know the orders we talked about yesterday only came into effect at midnight," NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian told Today.
"So our health authorities and police are talking today to think about what is the best way we can make sure that people comply."
She added it's unlikely anybody from any of the ten Melbourne hotspots - now under lockdown - will be able to get to NSW.
"If they did happen to find their way to NSW, well, obviously, there'd be harsh penalties, and I also always want to emphasise, to everybody in NSW, please make sure you don't let anyone in your moment from those hotspots, if someone does make it across the border somehow, or gets on a flight, but please also know we are doing those checks."
Ms Berejiklian added the new orders are also for NSW residents who break the rules, saying it's likely there will also be a spike in the state at some point.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard was set to sign the public health order last night, prohibiting anyone from 10 postcodes in the state from entering NSW.
"Victorians living in virus hotspots have to take the Victorian and NSW health orders seriously and should be very aware that NSW will impose penalties if they seek to leave hotspot suburbs to enter NSW," Mr Hazzard said.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Melbourne suburbs wake to lockdown
A total of 73 new cases were recorded yesterday in Victoria, and 14 in NSW.
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