Fears that Victoria may be isolated for up to two years because of ongoing coronavirus infections have been eased after Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Australia was aiming to wipe out community transmission in all states and territories.
Victoria and NSW are the only two states that still have community transmission of the coronavirus. Other states and territories are keeping their borders closed to most residents of the southern states.
Melbourne University epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely pointed out this week that if the situation in Victoria did not improve, the state could be isolated from the rest of the country until a vaccine was developed, which could take two years.
"So let's assume that Victoria doesn't get rid of the virus ... It essentially means Victoria is going to have to function in isolation from the rest of Australia until such time as we get a vaccine, assuming the other states don't want the virus back in," Blakely told ABC on Wednesday.