Sky News host Chris Kenny says Australia cannot be held hostage to COVID, but he fears too many premiers are, after one new case in New South Wales sent “the panic merchants” into discussion of closing the borders again.

His comment comes after one new case of coronavirus in New South Wales- a worker at hotel quarantine – sparked an immediate response from West Australian Premier Mark McGowan who announced the outbreak has put the planned border reopening in limbo.

“Obviously if the chief health officer recommends that we delay opening to NSW, then that is the decision we will make,” Premier Mark McGowan said on Thursday.

“We don’t have enough information at this point in time to make that decision, but we expect to get more information over coming days.”

The recent announcements come just a day after Mr McGowan said the state’s border restrictions for residents from New South Wales and Victoria were set to ease, under certain conditions, from 12:01am on Tuesday, December 8.

The border has been closed New South Wales and Victoria for eight months.

“It is one case so far in New South Wales,” Mr Kenny said.

“It would be madness to keep the border closed because of one case. If it were 10, if it were 100, it would be madness to close the border.

“We are a sophisticated country, we contact trace, we isolate, we can control this virus, we know where this infection came from.

“We cannot be hostage to this virus. I fear too many premiers are, and their entire states with them.”