Victoria stands firm on hard border as the state marks a week of zero local coronavirus cases
The Victorian Government is standing firm on its strict border controls as the state marks a week of zero locally acquired coronavirus cases.
There were three cases detected in hotel quarantine.
Nearly 18,000 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.
The state's total number of active cases has dropped to 35.
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More than 75,000 people have applied for permits since the state's new traffic light system went live, with travellers arriving at Melbourne airport from red and orange zones greeted by masked health officials.
Regional NSW and the Central Coast have been marked as orange zones under the new permit system based around coronavirus risk.
Greater Sydney and Brisbane remain in the 'red zone', which prevents all travel to Victoria unless an exemption is granted.
Disability Minister Luke Donnellan said opening the border to Greater Sydney and Brisbane was not worth the risk of COVID-19 seeping into the state.
"We need to ensure that people coming back are not going to be spreading coronavirus," he said.
"So that's what may appear to be brutal and uncaring and alike, is very much done in the interest of the Victorian public at heart to ensure we do not have another situation where we have to lock down."
A healthcare worker is seen at a personal protective equipment station inside of the Grand Hyatt Melbourne in Melbourne. AAP
Police Minister Lisa Neville yesterday apologised to thousands of interstate travellers for the technical glitch which saw the travel permit system delayed from its scheduled roll-out time of 5.59pm on Monday.
Several residents stranded in NSW found themselves stuck at the border, struggling to apply for permit to enter Victoria due to the delays.
"There were technical issues of trying to get this stood up properly, with Services Victoria working through some of the glitches to make sure it was working properly before going online," Ms Neville said.
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"Apologies to everyone who was frustrated, held up."
The Victorian Government has pledged to review the locations classed as hot spots every day.
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