New South Wales has recorded nine new coronavirus cases after a record 60,000-plus residents came forward for testing.
Seven of the new cases were linked to the Avalon cluster, which has now swelled to 104 infections.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was extremely pleased 60,184 tests had been carried out across the state in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday.
“I nearly fell off my chair, literally, when we realised that 60,000 people came forward to testing last night. That many people in a 24-hour period is outstanding,” she told reporters on Thursday morning.
It comes after the state recorded eight new cases on both of the previous 24 hour periods.
Ms Berejiklian urged people to remain vigilant and limit their movements and gatherings over the Christmas period, saying there were still chains of transmission that could lead to another outbreak.
“We are concerned about people who may have been infectious who went to work in the CBD and then have passed that onto other people in the CBD and those people have then passed it on in their communities,” she said.
“They are all eventually linked to the Avalon cluster but it does mean that there is potential transmission that we are not on top of and that is a concern.
“We are far from out of the woods and in fact we have to be extra vigilant over the next few days.”
Chief health officer Kerry Chant urged people to limit Christmas gatherings and to preference outdoor settings where possible.
“If we could really limit our mobility at this time, if we could keep our gatherings small and if we could also choose and preference outdoor settings,” Dr Chant said.
“So if you are hosting a Christmas dinner for your small group of family, please see if you have got a veranda or an outdoor area where people can congregate. We know that those areas are much safer than indoor environments.”
Venues such as the Paragon Hotel in Loftus Street near Circular Quay have also been added to a list of locations where confirmed cases had visited.
A full list of health alerts for venues and public transport routes is being updated on the NSW Health website.
Ms Berejiklian said there would be an extra police presence out in the Northern Beaches policing the Christmas restrictions.
“Don’t participate in any activity unless you absolutely have to, make your gatherings as small as possible,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian also confirmed that the traditional New Year’s Eve fireworks display on Sydney Harbour would be going ahead, though events and gatherings in and around the city would be considered post-Christmas.
Earlier on Thursday, the Australian Medical Association called on the NSW government to cancel their New Year’s Eve fireworks plans due to the coronavirus outbreak, saying it would be difficult to police crowd limits.
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 sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania
