Lisa Wilkinson says NSW 'kind of forgot' about the pandemic

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson has said NSW “kind of forgot” we’re in the middle of a pandemic after the northern beaches cluster grew to 17 cases late on Thursday.

Discussing the concerning outbreak in NSW on the show last night, Lisa said she believes it’s a wake-up call for Sydneysiders to be more vigilant during the COVID-19 crisis.

“In NSW, because we never went through what Victoria did or South Australia we’ve just been sort of rolling along, thinking, ‘Gee, haven’t we done well’,” Lisa, who was videoconferencing in from Sydney, said.

“Well, it turns out it is very definitely still out there and there’s obviously people who are asymptomatic that are passing it around that we’re not aware of. This is such a reminder of we are in a pandemic and we kind of forgot.”

RELATED:

• Lisa Wilkinson slates Meghan Markle's new venture: 'I'd go quiet'

• Lisa Wilkinson and Waleed Aly 'devastated' by scammers

• The Project's Lisa Wilkinson forced to apologise for air hostie joke

Lisa went on to say that she thinks the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, will live to regret saying he "never worries about NSW".'

Her comments came after people in NSW were urged not to travel to the northern beaches if they don't have to.

Northern beaches residents have been told to keep to their household groups, and work from home if they can.

They have also been told to avoid unnecessary travel outside the region, and not to visit high-risk venues including clubs, restaurants, places of worship and gyms.

The northern beaches cluster includes a residential aged care worker and a man who recently performed in a band at three RSL clubs, including in Avalon.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison is keen to have traffic flowing between the states despite the new virus cases in NSW.

The Queensland government has announced anyone arriving from Sydney on Friday, and who has been to the northern beaches since December 11, must get tested and self quarantine for 14 days.

Those measures will toughen further from 1am Saturday, when travellers from Sydney who have been to the region will be forced into hotel quarantine.

Queensland has also banned anyone who has been in the northern beaches region since December 11 from visiting aged care homes, hospitals or prisons in Queensland.

The West Australian government says anyone arriving from NSW is required to self-quarantine for 14 days and get tested on day 11.

Tasmania has already moved to prevent people who visited high-risk locations in NSW from travelling there.

Northern Territory authorities said anyone from the northern beaches area travelling to the NT will need to undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine in either Alice Springs or Darwin.

Victoria similarly told entrants to the state from the northern beaches that they must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days.

With extra reporting by AAP

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.