The Queensland government is planning to boost the number of vaccines being distributed to border towns and urging residents not to travel across into New South Wales.
Eight communities in western NSW, including Walgett, Duboo and Bathurst went into a one-week lockdown on Wednesday evening after a man from Walgett tested positive to the virus.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was closely monitoring the situation.
"We are very very concerned about the situation in NSW," the Premier said.
'Stay in Queensland'
Ms Palaszczuk urged people in border communities not to cross into NSW and to stay at home instead.
"Do not go into NSW," she said.
"Stay in Queensland.
"We'll be monitoring this situation closely over the next 24 to 48 hours — we don't want to see this virus creeping north."
Ms Palaszczuk said the government would implement harder border measures if necessary.
Residents in the border communities of St George and Dirranbandi who had been in a now-locked down NSW area since July 5 have been told to take a COVID test
"They should then follow the same requirement as if they were in NSW and remain in isolation at home, pending further advice," Balonne Shire Mayor Samantha O'Toole said.
Queensland Health said anyone who had been to the local government areas of Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley in NSW on or after 31 July must follow the NSW stay-at-home orders.
Councillor O'Toole said during a phone hook-up with the Premier, she was told police would be ramping up patrols of the border.
Councillor O'Toole said the advice for residents not to cross the border also applied to school children who were educated in New South Wales.
She said she believed the complete closure of the Queensland-NSW border was likely in the coming weeks.
“We’re on a knife’s edge and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a strengthening or closure of that border in the near future.”
"It’s a pretty rapidly changing space. I think the Queensland Government has been considered; they’re trying to work through this but I think we’re very close to seeing that border close now."
Vaccine boost
Ms Palaszczuk said she would speak to mayors from border communities about boosting the number of vaccines being distributed in regional areas.
She said she was "very concerned" about the issue.
"I am quite sure this will be an issue raised at a National Cabinet tomorrow as well," Ms Palaszczuk said.
Health officials said about 35 per cent of the eligible population in the South West Hospital region, which takes in towns such as St George, had been fully vaccinated.
About 51 per cent of the population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, Darling Downs Health, which is responsible for several border towns, said so far in Goondiwindi 4,992 people had received two doses of vaccine while 788 had received their first dose.
The Health Service is also running vaccination clinics in Stanthorpe and Warwick this month.
