THE Victorian premier has called for a ring of steel around Sydney, as NSW declares a national emergency for its rising COVID-19 cases.
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There were 136 cases announced in NSW on Thursday, with 53 of those people infectious in the community.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said the situation in her state was a national emergency.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said while he agreed with Ms Berejiklian's declaration, there needed to be more decisive action.
Related news: Victoria's coronavirus case numbers increase
"If there is a national emergency, and I'm not doubting that for a moment in Sydney, then it is a national responsibility that Sydneysiders are locked into Sydney," he said.
"We need a ring of steel around Sydney so that this virus is not spreading into other parts of our nation.
"Let's focus on what's going on in Sydney, let's focus on not spreading what's going on in Sydney across the rest of our country.
"We will finish up with the whole country locked down if we don't do this properly."
Mr Andrews said his government was willing to help NSW with its coronavirus outbreak.
"I want to be able to deal with our outbreak, have it settled, and then have thousands of contact tracers on the phone helping out Sydney," he said.
"I can't do that when we have cases to chase.
"We need to be on hyper alert because even with the strictest border closure ever put in place, we still have people moving around NSW and potentially spreading the virus.
"I have no request for a redistribution of vaccines. If there is an additional supply, I am not opposed to New South Wales receiving more."
Mr Andrews confirmed that of the 14 new coronavirus cases reported in Victoria on Friday, 10 of those cases were in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period.
The new cases bring the total number of cases in the state's Delta outbreak to 147.
Mr Andrews said high testing numbers - including 43,5542 people on Thursday - was a triumph of the public health system.
He said the trend was good but it was too early to say if Victoria's lockdown would end on Tuesday night.
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