Coronavirus: Chaos at NSW and Queensland border following more state border closures
Long queues have formed across the New South Wales and Queensland border after all non-essential visitors are locked out of the sunshine state, effectively shutting its borders.
The new rules came into force as 12.01 this morning and apply to all travel to Queensland by air, sea, rail or road.
READ MORE: Australia's coronavirus shutdown comes into force
A motorist is given the thumbs up by a police officer after being stopped at a checkpoint on the Gold Coast Highway at Coolangatta on the Queensland/NSW border, AAP
Only three roads will remain open, and there are police checkpoints in place to stop people driving through.
There was traffic chaos on the border this morning as hundreds of cars lined up to cross the border.
Motorists are stopped at a checkpoint on the Gold Coast Highway at Coolangatta on the Queensland/NSW border border , Thursday, March 26, 2020. AAP
"It has got to happen. If it helps it helps," one man told 9News this morning.
"I thought there might be just a couple of little police officers at the side of the road but this is good. This is good. We need to do this," another driver said.
Anyone to enter the state will be required to apply for a permit which can be accessed online.
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A Queensland Entry Pass is now required to cross the border. AAP
The list of exemptions for people allowed to travel into Queensland include border crossings by emergency and health services, essential freight transport and those living in border communities.
Anyone who enters Queensland for non-essential purposes must now isolate for 14 days.
The new restrictions are in place to discourage non-essential travel and slow the spread of coronavirus following the death of Queensland man, Garry Kirtenfeldt.
A motorist shows identifcation at a checkpoint on the Gold Coast Highway at Coolangatta on the Queensland/NSW border , Thursday, March 26, 2020. AAP
The 68-year-old had an underlying medical condition and contracted the virus on board the Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship which docked in Sydney last week.
NSW, Victoria and the ACT are the only jurisdictions which haven't closed borders.
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