NSW has recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, as Premier Gladys Berejiklian suggests the government may let venues ban entry to those who decline to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
NSW recorded zero new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, as well as eight cases in hotel quarantine.
However, the tally came from fewer than 9000 tests, prompting NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty to plead for an uptick in testing numbers.
Ms Berejiklian has previously flagged the possibility of easing restrictions on Greater Sydney this week but only if testing rates are sufficiently high.
“The drop in daily testing numbers is of concern and NSW Health renews its calls for people to get tested if they are experiencing even the mildest of symptoms,” Dr McAnulty said in a statement on Monday.
“The best thing we can do for our friends and family is to get tested.”
NSW recorded six new local cases of COVID-19 in the prior 24-hour period, five of which were household contacts of a previously confirmed case.
NSW Health has now genomically linked those cases to the Berala cluster but the route of transmission is yet to be established.
The sixth case was a Concord Repatriation General Hospital staff member who worked in the cardiology and radiology wards and may have been infectious on 12, 13, and 14 January but had minimal patient contact.
Ms Berejiklian also on Monday broached the possibility of barring those who decline the COVID-19 vaccine from government-run buildings, as well as permitting private venues to take similar measures.
As the planned February rollout of the vaccine nears, the NSW government is considering a data-sharing partnership with the federal government that would help residents prove they have been immunised.
Ms Berejiklian has previously suggested the Service NSW smartphone app could show a tick when a person is vaccinated, enabling venue entry.
“The more people that are vaccinated, the greater likelihood we can have a return to normality as we know it,” Ms Berejiklian told 2GB radio.
“Already airlines have indicated that if you’re not vaccinated you can’t travel overseas and I think that’ll be an incentive to a lot of people.
“But we’ll also consider whether we allow venues … make up their own rules if they have a business or run a workplace about what they feel is COVID-safe.”
Victoria, meanwhile, will from 6pm on Monday fully open its border to 16 local government areas in southern NSW, and also ease restrictions for visitors from all but 10 local government areas in Greater Sydney.
Those visitors will be required to seek COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Victoria and self-isolate until they receive a negative result, but will not be barred entry.
Residents of local government areas including Parramatta, Liverpool, Fairfield, Burwood and Strathfield remain locked out of Victoria.
Victoria has gone 12 straight days without a new local coronavirus infection and residents stuck in Brisbane are now free to travel back to the state.
One COVID-19 patient in NSW is in intensive care.
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
