Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called for Sydney to be encased in a 'ring of steel' as the Delta coronavirus outbreak continues to surge.
The premier said he plans to raise the issue at today's National Cabinet meeting of premiers and the Prime Minister.
Mr Andrews said there is a "national responsibility" to contain the out-of-control Sydney coronavirus outbreak otherwise the "whole country will end up in lockdown".
LIVE UPDATES: Sydney situation a 'national emergency'
Currently Victoria, South Australia and the regional town of Orange are also under stay-at-home orders.
During Melbourne's lockdowns last year, police were stationed around the edge of the city stopping people from leaving without a valid reason.
However, the current restrictions do already mean people are not allowed to leave home except for a small list of reasons, with extra rules for more areas of the city's west and south west announced today.
In line with the restrictions on Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown, workers in Cumberland and Blacktown will no longer be allowed to leave those communities unless they are health and emergency workers.
READ MORE: Restrictions tightened across south-west Sydney
Mr Andrews has called for more to be done after NSW Chief health officer Kerry Chant described the situation in the state as 'a national emergency'.
"Sydney is on fire with this virus and we need a ring of steel around Sydney.
"There is a national responsibility to do everything possible to contain it where it is now. Not to see it spread.
"We did it last year to protect country Victoria and our country, and the same must occur in relation to Sydney.
"There is a national responsibility to put a ring of steel around Sydney.
"That's what I will be asking for at National Cabinet."
Police, authorised officers and ADF personnel could help man the proposed border to protect the virus from seeping into other states, Mr Andrews suggested.
New South Wales recorded 136 local COVID-19 cases today, 53 of which were infectious in the community.
Mr Andrews said New South Wales seemed to have "crossed a threshold" with a surge in COVID-19 cases.
"How many more states do we want locked down?" he said.
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