The NSW government has shot down suggestions it follow Queensland's lead by considering moving hotel quarantine from Sydney.
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After an outbreak of a highly-infectious COVID-19 variant in a Brisbane hotel, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she is weighing up the relocation of her state's hotel quarantine program.
Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Thursday mining camps, like the one used for returned overseas travellers in the Northern Territory, could be the answer.
But NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says it's not suitable for his state.
"Each state and territory have different geographical circumstances and different transmission issues in terms of the virus," he told reporters.
"NSW certainly doesn't see the benefit for us in following that path."
The relocation of hotel quarantine would present a logistical nightmare, risk exposure among returned travellers en route to the facilities and separate COVID-positive travellers from Sydney-based medical care, Mr Hazzard said.
More than 3000 aircrew alone come through NSW each week, compared to fewer than 300 in Western Australia. NSW is taking about 3000 returned travellers each week but this will soon drop to 1500.
"We have more than the entire patient load of Royal North Shore Hospital in our special health accommodation facilities," Mr Hazzard said.
"On the basis of three incidents now, it would not be logical for us to move that arrangement out of Sydney and nor would it be fair or practical."
The minister's comments come a day after authorities issued an alert for anyone who has been at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Brisbane, where an outbreak of the UK variant of COVID-19 has developed since December 30.
The quarantine hotel is linked to six cases of the strain and has been closed for deep cleaning.
All 10 people in NSW who stayed in the hotel have been contacted and returned to quarantine, Mr Hazzard said on Thursday.
Zero new local virus cases were recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, from more than 20,000 tests.
Two cases in hotel quarantine were identified.
"We've seen it before, days without cases, but what we want to avoid is complacency," NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty told reporters.
"We want to see over 25,000 tests a day."
One COVID-19 patient in NSW is in intensive care and on a ventilator.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant on Wednesday told reporters it would take at least another three weeks before authorities could be certain the Berala and northern beaches clusters are fully squashed.
The health minister also again condemned those who refuse to wear masks after a northwest Sydney security guard was assaulted and a member of the public stabbed in an altercation.
It is alleged the 25-year-old offender attacked the pair after the woman he was with was asked to wear a mask.
"For heaven's sake, individuals who think that they can actually not wear a mask are just kidding themselves ... wear the damn mask," Mr Hazzard said.
Australian Associated Press
