Good morning and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, as NSW tries to rein in an outbreak on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The cluster grew to 28 cases on Friday, and NSW Health authorities are poised to announce another spike in cases on Saturday, which may trigger new rules and restrictions.
NSW Health has issued a strong advisory for those living in Sydney’s northern beaches to wear a mask at all times, even when visiting indoor areas. Residents there have already been told to stay home as much as possible and to avoid high-risk venues such as cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as gyms and places of worship.
Beaches from North Palm Beach to Manly will be closed until Monday, while a number of council facilities including libraries and aquatic centres will be closed until Sunday.
Authorities believe that, from the outbreak epicentre in Avalon, people unknowingly infected with the virus scattered across Sydney to Redfern, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Bondi and Cronulla, out to Penrith and Riverstone in the west.
Stick with us throughout the day and we’ll bring you the latest news at it develops.
