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NSW has announced “modest changes” to coronavirus restrictions over the Christmas period after recording eight new cases on Wednesday. But the ACT is set to keep its restrictions on travellers in place beyond Christmas and potentially into the new year as local authorities remain wary of the Sydney outbreak. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said seven new cases linked to the Avalon cluster on Sydney’s northern beaches had been reported overnight, bringing the outbreak’s total to 97. A total of 42,000 tests were recorded. With authorities still unable to detect the source of the outbreak, Ms Berejikilian has announced “very modest” changes to restrictions across Sydney on December 24, 25 and 26. No changes will be made for regional NSW. A 10-person gathering limit will remain in place for households in Greater Sydney, although extra children aged under 12 will be allowed on those three days. The strict 10-person limit will be reimposed on December 27. The northern beaches, where the outbreak is centred, will be effectively split in two on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Residents in the northern section of the area, which Ms Berejiklian described as the “epicentre” of the cluster, will remain in lockdown and won’t be allowed to leave, although they are permitted five people from the region in their house over the three-day period. In the southern section of the northern beaches, in suburbs such as Manly and Dee Why, household gatherings of 10 people from the region will be allowed over the Christmas period. A decision on restrictions for the southern section beyond December 27 will be made in the coming days. While there is no ban on travel from Sydney to regional NSW, Ms Berejiklian asked people to be extra cautious. “What is most critical to us is that everybody tries to protect those closest and dearest to them … in the next few days,” she said. Earlier on Wednesday, ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman said Canberrans should expect current quarantine requirements for anyone returning from greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong, to remain in place for Christmas and potentially into the new year. Acting health minister Chris Steel is expected to confirm the rules for Christmas Day later this afternoon. More than 300 people have been forced into 14 days of self-quarantine after arriving in Canberra from one of the declared hotspots. More to come
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NSW has announced “modest changes” to coronavirus restrictions over the Christmas period after recording eight new cases on Wednesday.
But the ACT is set to keep its restrictions on travellers in place beyond Christmas and potentially into the new year as local authorities remain wary of the Sydney outbreak.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said seven new cases linked to the Avalon cluster on Sydney’s northern beaches had been reported overnight, bringing the outbreak’s total to 97. A total of 42,000 tests were recorded.
With authorities still unable to detect the source of the outbreak, Ms Berejikilian has announced “very modest” changes to restrictions across Sydney on December 24, 25 and 26. No changes will be made for regional NSW.
A 10-person gathering limit will remain in place for households in Greater Sydney, although extra children aged under 12 will be allowed on those three days. The strict 10-person limit will be reimposed on December 27.
The northern beaches, where the outbreak is centred, will be effectively split in two on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Residents in the northern section of the area, which Ms Berejiklian described as the “epicentre” of the cluster, will remain in lockdown and won’t be allowed to leave, although they are permitted five people from the region in their house over the three-day period.
In the southern section of the northern beaches, in suburbs such as Manly and Dee Why, household gatherings of 10 people from the region will be allowed over the Christmas period.
A decision on restrictions for the southern section beyond December 27 will be made in the coming days.
While there is no ban on travel from Sydney to regional NSW, Ms Berejiklian asked people to be extra cautious.
“What is most critical to us is that everybody tries to protect those closest and dearest to them … in the next few days,” she said.
Acting health minister Chris Steel is expected to confirm the rules for Christmas Day later this afternoon.
More than 300 people have been forced into 14 days of self-quarantine after arriving in Canberra from one of the declared hotspots.
