Border closure

Samoa holiday travel likely to re-open in 2022

CEO of Samoa's tourism authority Fa'amatuainu Lenata'i Suifua said that vaccinations and a tracer app would be key to letting tourists in.

"You'll need to download the app before you come to Samoa," he told Pacific Beat.

He said the app was based off the "privacy preserving BlueTrace protocol" developed in Singapore which uses Bluetooth to trace contacts between the users.

So far 36 per cent of Samoa's eligible population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and almost 80 per cent have received their first dose.

Queensland to close borders to NSW and ACT

It comes as the state recorded one new case of coronavirus overnight.

The 68-year-old Queensland woman was diagnosed with the virus in the past 24 hours and authorities are still investigating the source of the infection.

Two historic cases have also been added to the state's total of 1,088 cases.

The hotspot declaration means anyone travelling from NSW or the nation's capital will soon be banned from entering the Sunshine State.

Queenslanders who return after travelling there will be sent to mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.

NSW to close border with Victoria due to COVID-19 outbreak

Andrews announced the closure at a press conference this morning where he said Victoria had recorded a further 127 new coronavirus cases and a man in his 90s had died in a Victorian hospital.

He said the decision to close the border followed talks with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The three leaders agreed closing the border would be the "smart call" at this point in time, Mr Andrews said.