MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper has called for a blanket ban on travel for Melbourne residents while metropolitan coronavirus numbers remain high.
Ms Cupper said the potential for the virus to continue spreading meant more stringent restrictions were needed.
New South Wales announced a closure for its border with Victoria on Monday.
Ms Cupper said the Victorian Government should introduce the regional travel ban until virus numbers were brought under control.
“The last couple of weeks have seen a significant spike in the number of cases, and the last few days have been particularly alarming,” Ms Cupper said.
“There are now active cases being reported in the Greater Shepparton, Greater Bendigo and Gippsland so it is clear the virus has not been contained to the metropolitan Melbourne hotspots.
“Premier Daniel Andrews needs to put a blanket ban on travel for Melbourne residents.”
Ms Cupper said people from the Mildura electorate should also seriously reconsider any travel to Melbourne for the foreseeable future.
“People who do not need to travel to Melbourne for urgent reasons like health care shouldn’t,” she said.
“I know this is particularly onerous on people who might have family or friends in Melbourne who they haven’t seen for months, but right now it is too risky for people from Melbourne coming to the Mildura electorate, and vice versa.
“It is disappointing it has come to this, and it is very difficult for industries such as hospitality and tourism that are relying on visitors – but we need to prioritise our health and safety at this time.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed concern about the virus spreading from Melbourne into regional areas in a Monday press conference.
Ms Cupper said earlier on Monday the border closure would cause “significant angst” in communities on both sides of the Murray River.
