First published on Fri 18 Dec 2020 00.52 EST
Sydney is in the grip of a new coronavirus outbreak centred on the northern beaches.
In the space of 36 hours, New South Wales shifted from a 12-day period free from local transmission to the sudden emergence of dozens of cases.
By 8pm on Friday what is known as the Avalon cluster had grown to 38 cases. A further three locally acquired cases where a source had not yet been established were under investigation, NSW Health said.
At 5pm Saturday, the northern beaches will enter a lockdown similar to that imposed on all New South Wales residents in March.
Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, Dec 16
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