The Northern Territory has shut its border to greater Sydney to stop a virus outbreak in the NSW capital from spreading.
Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison says the government is heading off the threat from the Sydney outbreak, which has grown to 70 cases.
People from Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and the Illawarra will be ordered into 14-day quarantine on arrival in the NT.
"We've said that our number one priority is to protect the lives of Territorians, and that if we had to, we would go hard, wide and early," Ms Manison told reporters on Sunday.
"And we'd act quickly and today we have again."
She said that the restrictions are effective immediately, leaving passengers on an incoming flight from Sydney with a tough choice.
When they land they will be given the option to going into 14-day quarantine or get a flight straight back to Sydney.
"I know this is going to be a really difficult day for the families who are awaiting their loved ones to arrive from Sydney," the acting chief minister said.
"Our heart goes out to you, we know Christmas is a really special time, however, again, this is about protecting Territorians."
