Victoria and NSW could go into lockdown as early as this weekend if the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen and Scott Morrison’s restrictions do not flatten the curve.

With the two states having the highest infection rates in the country, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said that she was looking “very closely” at the impact of the Federal Government’s closure of businesses.

The NSW premier is prepared to declare a state-wide lockdown by the weekend if infections don’t tail off.

“If we don't see things shifting in the numbers because of [the Federal Government's] actions, NSW will have to go ­further,” she said on Thursday. 

“I'm saying to the community that if we're not convinced we've had a sufficient amount of success, NSW will have to take further action and that's a position I've been clear on from day one.”

The state-implemented restrictions could see people confined to their homes and only leaving to get basic necessities.

“There's no need to panic,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Supermarkets and essential things will still be available.”

Victoria’s Health Minister Jenny Mikakos indicated that the state was looking to implement its own measures to stop the virus from spreading.

“Everybody must understand that it is time to make some sacrifices if we are to save lives,” Ms ­Mikakos said. 

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has refused to confirm or deny whether he’d advise Premier Daniel Andrews to put Victoria into lockdown.

“The Premier will take that case to National Cabinet and they'll make a call. I think if any of us ­failed the elderly, youth in one suburb or another, in regional Victoria or metro Melbourne, then we all fail ourselves,” he said. 

As the coronavirus death toll has rose to 13, with three people dying in Victoria overnight, the state is desperate for something to be done. Australia now has more than 2,800 coronavirus cases, with 1,219 in NSW and 520 in Victoria.