One of the new coronavirus cases does not live in the Northern Beaches and works in the CBD. “Patrons that were at the sports bar during this time for more than one hour are close contacts, they need to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result,” Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said. “Anyone who was there for less than one hour needs to get tested immediately and to self-isolate pending a negative result, she said. “And people who attended other areas of the Paragon Hotel during this time should monitor for symptoms.” Another of today’s new cases under investigation is an office worker in the vicinity of Hunter and Bligh Streets in Sydney’s CBD.
Christmas saved for some Sydneysiders as lockdown is extended
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Families in Sydney will get some relief over the next three days, with parts of the city s northern beaches allowed to welcome guests from outside the area.
The outbreak has already ruined Christmas for thousands across the country, with states and territories snapping borders shut or carving out parts of NSW for forced quarantine.
University of South Australia epidemiologist Adrian Esterman said the relaxed measures seem sound.
He also praised NSW s efforts in clamping down on the outbreak, which rose to 97 cases on Wednesday.
Professor Esterman urged the federal government to show more leadership when it came to defining hotspots, saying it was “crazy” that states and territories hadn t worked out a national response plan to outbreaks.
Advertisement Whilst we appreciate the modest changes we ve made over the next three days, we also accept and respect the fact that many families and individuals may choose not to take up that opportunity because of concerns they may have for vulnerable members of their family, or because they re worried about acquiring or the virus or contributing to transmission, she said. We ask everybody to make those assessments.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said people over 70 or with comorbidities should seriously reconsider having guests to their homes this weekend. If they do, try and do it outside in the fresh air - perhaps on a balcony, perhaps outside somewhere - so that you minimise the risks, Mr Hazzard said.