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Health authorities in New South Wales, Australia had confirmed 13 new coronavirus infections, while restriction for residents on the New South Wales-Victorian border has been eased. There were 14,815 tests completed during the reporting period and NSW has now recorded 3,874 cases. Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian announced the easing of restrictions for residents and businesses on the NSW-Victorian border on Tuesday (Sept 1), which will come into force on Friday.

"Pleasingly, having obviously heard the sustained concerns of the community, and seeing the rates of infection in Victoria decline, from this Friday the border region, will be extended to that initial 50 kilometres on either side of the border. Service new south wales and the community has a few days to adjust to that. We want to make sure that unlike the previous changes we gave as much notice as possible so people will started to planning a hit" PM said. 

PM Gladys Berejiklian added that she was hesitant to ever close the border and did not want it closed for a day longer than necessary but there had been some difficulty in getting up-to-date information on transmission and testing rates in Victoria, which prevented the border from opening.

"I was very hesitant in closing the border but we won’t be hesitant, we won’t leave a day longer then we need to. But we have to make sure it’s the right thing to do at the right time and it’s in order to make sure we keep the community save.  What we’ve done in all stages during the pandemic especially in the last 6 or 7 weeks is make sure we didn’t go down the path with victoria. And that’s why we work overtime because now eventhough I know its frustating for the people in this community, think of the alternative which would be had we had to shut down New South Wales none of us will be moving around as freely as we are. Bussines won’t be able to do anything. And so as difficult as it’s been, please know the government decission, my decission was coming from a place of good intention and offcourse as I said we won’t leave the border closed for a day longer then we need to" She said

At present, Victorian border residents with permits to enter NSW must stay within a 2.5km zone but that will now be extended back to the original 50km either side of the border introduced in July. The NSW Government would be closely watching transmission in Victoria over the next fortnight, but could not yet give a timeline on when NSW would open completely to Victoria//ABC AUS