More than 1500 Victorians have applied for exemptions to the state’s border closure with NSW, but so far authorities have granted just 117. A hard border between the two states came into effect on the night of January 1, requiring anyone returning after then to be approved and undergo 14 days hotel quarantine. End of life visits and funerals are among the reasons health authorities have approved applications, which also require a negative coronavirus test to be accepted. Applications are taking up to 48 hours to consider. Nearly half have had further documentation requested. Victoria recorded three new community cases of the virus on Sunday, taking the total in the latest outbreak to 21 and total active cases to 32. All the community transmission cases are tied back to the Buffalo Smile Thai restaurant at Black Rock, in bayside Melbourne. There are 2765 close contacts of those infected who are …