As millions of NSW residents go into a two-week lockdown from Saturday evening, other states are warning of the consequences of crossing their borders without permission.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Saturday at 2pm that from 6pm Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong would be under stay-at-home orders until July 9.
Another 12 COVID-19 infections were recorded in the state on Saturday, bringing the outbreak to 80 local cases.
"We should brace ourselves for more cases," Mr Berejiklian warned.
Infections are growing at a similar rate to Friday, she says, but exposure sites have begun emerging in areas outside of those locked-down.
They include communities within the northern beaches and western Sydney, where people have potentially been infectious for days.
Regional NSW will be under lesser restrictions including indoor mask wearing, staying seated in hospitality venues and private homes can only have up to five visitors.
Queensland and Victorian leaders fronted cameras on Saturday telling residents not to travel to NSW and warning of the ramifications of trying to cross their borders after being in a hotspot.
Victoria Police have stationed extra officers at the border and are conducting spot checks and using licence plate recognition technology.
Travellers run the risk of being turned around or even being fined up to $5000.
In Brisbane, Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young urged residents to reconsider any travel to NSW to avoid "complications" on the way back.
Speculation is also increasing one of the nation's premier sporting events, State of Origin, will have to be rescheduled or relocated, with game three between NSW and Queensland due to be played in Sydney on July 14.
Meanwhile, Australia's vaccination rate will have to double to complete the program by the end of the year.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Friday gave approval for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine - the third COVID-19 vaccine to be approved in Australia.
Johnson and Johnson is a US health company and has developed the vaccine with Belgian pharmaceutical company Janssen, with much of the vaccine development done in Janssen's facility in the Netherlands.
The Australian government has not yet made any deal to receive Johnson and Johnson vaccines so the TGA decision will not aid the rollout.
"The vaccine campaign has accelerated in recent months but Australia is still only jabbing 0.4 per cent of its population per day, well below the 0.8 to one per cent rates currently seen in continental Europe," economist Marcel Thieliant said.
Australia has ordered a total of 40 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which would be sufficient to cover the entire adult population and enough Pfizer vaccine has been received to maintain the current pace of vaccinations two weeks ago.
"But deliveries dropped back again last week and we estimate that the pace of vaccinations would have to double by the third quarter for the adult population to be fully vaccinated by year-end," Mr Thieliant said.
Federal Labor health spokesman Mark Butler lambasted the government over the vaccine rollout on Saturday and blamed Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the latest lockdowns.
"Have no doubt this Sydney lockdown is Scott Morrison's lockdown," he said.
"He's bungled the vaccine rollout so that only three per cent of the Australian population are fully vaccinated against these highly infectious variants."
Victorian Labor Health Minister Martin Foley said Australia was nowhere near being able to have conversations about a "freed-up, vaccinated" life because vaccine supply was so far below demand.
Australia recorded 31 new community COVID-19 cases on Saturday - 29 in NSW, taking in cases reported late on Friday, one in Victoria and one in the Northern Territory. Four cases were overseas acquired and are in hotel quarantine.
