Covid: Sydney cut off from rest of Australia following outbreak

States have reacted quickly to close borders to Sydney throwing Christmas plans into chaos

People wear masks in Sydney, Australia (EPA-EFE)

A travel ban has cut Syndey off from the rest of Australia after concerns about a spike in coronavirus cases.

Authorities are trying to get to grips with the flare-up in New South Wales (NSW) after 83 people tested positive in the outbreak at Sydney’s northern beaches.

Other states and territories have moved quickly to close borders to all of Sydney's five million residents, throwing Christmas travel plans into chaos.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters: “2020 is not done with us yet.

"The events of the past few days... are incredibly frustrating and disappointing for people all around the country who had plans in place to get together and move in between states."

Despite concerns about the new outbreak the state reported that 15 people tested positive for the virus in the last 24 hours, which is down from 30 in the previous day.

The dip in numbers has been cause for some optimism but NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: "I'm pleased with what we've seen overnight, but again, it's volatile." 

NSW imposed a lockdown on Friday in Sydney's northern beaches area, home to more than 250,000 people, after the cluster emerged, centred on two dining and entertainment venues in the seaside suburb of Avalon.

About 90 locations including cafes, gyms, casinos and supermarkets across Sydney were identified as having been visited by infected people.

Authorities have urged anyone who visited the venues to immediately get tested and self-isolate, while dozens of domestic flights due to leave Sydney were cancelled.

Australia is one of a group of countries who have seen lower death and infection numbers due to a fast and aggressive response to the onset of the virus.

The country has suffered 908 deaths and 28, 198 infections from coronavirus.

It comes as the country confirmed on Monday it has detected two cases of a fast-spreading new coronavirus strain that has forced Britain to reverse plans to ease curbs over Christmas and impose strict lockdown restrictions on many parts of the country.