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A new, potentially highly transmissible strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in hotel quarantine in NSW is a cause for concern, say experts who predict it will continue to spread around the globe.
But Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, who was appointed to the role on Monday, said there was no need to introduce tougher measures on returned travellers.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said on Monday there was no need to stop people from England returning to Australia.
Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Everyone coming from the UK is going into 14 days of hotel quarantine and they are of no risk as that quarantine works so successfully, as it has done for the most part here in Australia since the beginning, he said.
Among the new venues are Avalon Beach RSL and Coffee Brothers Mona Vale
Covid has spread to venues across Sydney, with Kirribilli Hotel in Milsons Point
NSW recorded 15 cases on Monday - all linked to the northern beaches cluster
38,000 people got tested on Sunday, with results not known for up to 72 hours
Five cases confirmed in a CBD workplace have been linked to the Avalon cluster
Sydney records 15 new locally-acquired coronavirus cases - all linked to the Northern Beaches cluster - as hope grows the city s new outbreak has been contained
Sydney has recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus - and all have been linked to the Northern Beaches cluster
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said virus may have come from an Australian returning from Los Angeles
All states have closed borders to Greater Sydney and Western Australia has banned all of New South Wales
UK s mutant strain of Covid-19 which is 75 per cent more contagious has been detected in hotel quarantine
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More than 100 venues across Sydney have been placed on COVID-19 alert as NSW Health authorities attempt to extinguish the coronavirus spot fires that are bursting beyond the northern beaches.
There were 23 new cases of COVID-19 reported in NSW on Monday. All 15 locally acquired cases were linked to the Avalon cluster, bringing that outbreak to 83 cases. The other eight cases were returned international travellers already in hotel quarantine.
But several of the newly diagnosed local cases were infected at venues beyond the northern peninsula, putting health authorities on high alert. Christmas Day celebrations across Sydney hinge on what happens in the next 24 hours and whether health authorities can stop the spread of the northern beaches outbreak.
Ms Berejiklian said she would make a final decision on Wednesday about what restrictions may be needed on Christmas day.
She said the government was pleased with today s results - half the number of newly confirmed cases compared to the previous day - but warned it was a volatile situation that needed to be monitored hour to hour.
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A record 38,578 people came forward for testing in the latest 24-hour reporting period as testing surged not only in the northern beaches but across the state, Dr Chant said.
Ms Berejiklian said to expect more venues to be added to NSW Health s list of places that COVID-19 cases visited while infectious, including sites outside the northern beaches.