Here’s what you need to know this morning.
New COVID-19 alerts for South Coast venues
NSW Health has confirmed new venues on the NSW South Coast which were visited by a known case of COVID-19.
They have urged issued an alert for people who visited Kangaroo Valley’s Nostalgia Factor shop on Sunday, December 27 from 11:20am to 11:30am and Huskisson’s Taj Indian restaurant on December 27 from 4:45pm to 5:20pm.
People should monitor for symptoms such as a runny nose, scratchy throat or fatigue and, if they occur, get tested immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
NSW Health also upgraded advice on several Western Sydney venues confirmed yesterday, urging visitors to get tested, including Parramatta’s Ollie Webb Reserve cricket ground, Saravanaa Bhavan and the Merrylands RSL, with high-risk times on the health department’s website.
Summer Nights event postponed
The City of Parramatta Council has postponed its new “Summer Nights” event series in response to the current COVID-19 outbreaks across Greater Sydney.
The inaugural outdoor event program, featuring live music performances, an open-air cinema and rooftop roller-skating, was scheduled to take place between January 7 and 26 at various venues across Parramatta.
People who have already purchased tickets to any of the events will receive a full refund.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer cited the “growing concerns and unpredictability of the current situation with COVID-19” in making the tough decision to postpone.
Boys remembered as ‘smiley’, ‘cheeky’
Two young boys have been remembered by a reeling family and two communities after they were killed in an alleged hit-and-run in central-west NSW on Tuesday.
To those who knew them, Shane and Sheldon were “cheeky, loveable, sporty show-offs [with] smiley faces”, said their father Joseph Shorey.
Shane was excited to turn 8 tomorrow and was looking forward to birthday parties in Wellington, NSW with his mum and then another in Emerald, Queensland with his dad.
The boys’ family are now facing the unfathomable task of organising a funeral for their “angels“.
A very different cricket Test starts
The traditional New Year’s cricket Test starts today, despite days of growing pressure to cancel crowds at the SCG — but there will be some significant changes to the event.
Initially billed to be only 50 per cent capacity, that has been reduced again, and now less than 10,000 will be allowed to attend each day in a stadium that usually sits 38,000.
For businesses that would usually rely on income from the New Year’s Test, it’s a disappointing outcome.
Medical experts, including the Australian Medical Association, have urged fans to watch the match at home due to the risk of spread of COVI-19.
Man charged after hitting female police officer
A man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a police officer in Sydney’s inner west yesterday.
Police said they saw the man open a drink container he was carrying in Marrickville and begin pouring out the liquid.
The 20-year-old man allegedly hit the female constable in the face and chest when police approached him.
He was charged with assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, resisting or hindering a police officer in the execution of duty, possessing a prohibited drug, trespassing and goods in personal custody suspected stolen.
