NSW records seven new coronavirus cases as authorities urge Sydney residents to limit movement over Christmas

The new cases takes the total number of infections linked to the Northern Beaches cluster to 110.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Source: AAP

New South Wales has recorded seven new locally-transmitted cases of coronavirus as health authorities called on the public to limit their movements over the Christmas period.

The cases, six of which were already in isolation and linked to the Northern Beaches cluster, were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night from a record-breaking almost 70,000 tests.
The seventh case was a worker from the Northern Beaches, who caught public transport in the area. 

At least 110 cases are now linked to the Northern Beaches cluster, with health authorities so far unable to determine how the international-strain of the virus entered the community.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said almost 70,000 tests in a single day was an "outstanding result" but warned residents against travelling to the CBD for Boxing Day sales due to "potential spread" in the area.

"Today it is proving to be constrained, but we cannot be too careful under these circumstances," she told reporters on Friday.



"We want to discourage people from going to the CBD tomorrow [Boxing Day]. Please limit your activity."

Health authorities are providing regular updates to a list of venues and locations visited by confirmed cases , with passengers on a regional flight and people lining up for photos with Santa in the CBD among the latest groups to be placed on alert.

Passengers on flight ZL6469 from Sydney to Griffith, in NSW's Riverina region, departing at 2.10pm on Monday are considered close contacts of a positive case. They are being urged to get tested at a new pop-up site in the city and isolate for 14 days, even if the result is negative.

Meanwhile, a Santa photo set-up on level three of Sydney's QVB building is among the latest exposure sites, with those who attended between 10.15 and 11am on Wednesday told to get tested and isolate.
Also among the recent alerts is the Paragon Hotel in Circular Quay which has been linked to three cases. Anyone who visited the hotel between 12.45 and 3.30pm on 16 December for more than an hour is considered a close contact and should isolate immediately for the full 14-days, regardless of test result.

Anyone who was there for less than an hour during that time should get tested and isolate until a result is received, NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant said. 

"I want to repeat my urging that anyone who has been in the north-eastern part of the city, including Australia Square, the MLC Centre, and Chiefly Square should be alert to symptoms," she continued.

Another case linked to the Paddington Alimentari deli was also recorded after 8pm on Thursday and will be included in Saturday's case tally.
The Northern Beaches lockdown has been split into two regions for the Christmas period, with residents north of the Narrabeen Bridge unable to host guests from outside the region while those in the Southern end can have up to 10 guests from across the state, excluding children, over to their home.

Neither group is able to leave the Northern Beaches, with the lockdown conditions to revert to previous settings on 27 December. 

Dr Chant once again urged people who were celebrating Christmas with their friends and family to sit outside if possible and stay home if they experienced any symptoms. 

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

News and information is available in 63 languages at .

Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: .


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4 min read
Published 25 December 2020 11:07am
Updated 25 December 2020 7:57pm
By SBS News
Source: SBS News



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