New COVID-19 restrictions will be put into place in Greater Sydney this evening after NSW recorded another local coronavirus case as authorities race to trace her movements.
The wife of the man who was revealed to have the virus yesterday, returned a positive test, and as a result, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has introduced a range of new restrictions effective from 5pm.
The restrictions will remain in place for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and are aimed at reducing community transmission.
The man, in his 50s, from the eastern suburbs, was revealed to have the virus yesterday but authorities were unable to determine where he had contracted it.
Today, genomic sequencing of the COVID-19 strain he acquired has been completed, with health authorities finding a match to an overseas case.
The returned traveller came back from the United States on April 26 and entered hotel quarantine at the Park Royal in Darling Harbour, before testing positive to COVID-19 on his Day One test, when he was moved to Sydney Health Accommodation on April 28.
“We are currently reviewing CCTV footage to look at how the transmission got from this individual to our case,” Dr Chant said.
“What we’re concerned about is that there is a missing link, because there is no direct contact that we’ve been able to establish yet.”
New restrictions in place
No more than 20 people will be allowed in people’s homes.
There will be no singing or dancing in indoor venues, including places of worship and entertainment venues. Weddings will be given an exception with health advice to limit patrons on the dancefloor to 20.
Mask-wearing will be compulsory at all indoor places for the next three days.
The NSW Premier is urging Sydneysiders in particular to be cautious over the next few days, as it remained likely that unidentified cases were wandering around the city.
She urged everyone to follow the mask rules and, if going to a bar, to sit down while drinking.
“Enjoy Mother’s Day – do what you would normally do,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We’re actually saying to businesses, keep your doors open, just make sure you have a COVID safe plan.”
She said she expected to be criticised by other state premiers for not going hard enough, but urged that it remained “business as usual” for businesses.
“Our decision is based on advice – it’s proportionate,” she said.
“If this was Queensland or WA or anywhere else, they would have shut down the whole city, they would have shut down businesses.”
NSW’s snap restrictions explained
The following measures will be effective from midday today(enforceable from 5pm) until 12.01am Monday, 10 May for the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains):
- Visitors to households will be limited to 20 guests – including children;
- Masks will be compulsory on public transport and in all public indoor venues, such as retail, theatres, hospitals, aged care facilities and for front-of-house hospitality staff (except in a hospitality venue when eating or drinking);
- Drinking while standing up at indoor venues will not be allowed;
- Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed;
- Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings with a strong recommendation that no more than 20 people should be on the dancefloor at any one time; and
- Visitors to aged care facilities will be limited to two people.
Additional restrictions for NSW Aged Care Facilities
Additional restrictions have been implemented for aged care facilities in the Greater Sydney region including Sydney, Nepean Blue Mountains and the Central Coast.
Going forward, a maximum of two visitors will be permitted per resident, per day.
All visitors and team members must wear a mask while inside the premises.
People who have been a close contact of the identified case or been at the casual contact locations will not be allowed to enter.
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