NSW has recorded two new community Covid infections in a husband and wife
Man s case was first reported on Wednesday and sent shockwaves through city
He has not returned from overseas and does not work in border control or health
His wife has now contracted virus, which is linked to returned traveller from U.S.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a host of new restrictions on Thursday
Sydney Harbour.
Photo: AFP
Restrictions will apply until at least Monday and limit household guests to 20, make masks compulsory in indoor public venues and on public transport, and restrict aged care visitation to two people.
It comes after it emerged this afternoon that the wife of the first Covid-19 community case - a man in his 50s - had contracted the virus too.
The man from Sydney s eastern suburbs had not been overseas recently, and did not work in a hotel quarantine, border or health role, setting off alarms on how he contracted the virus in the community. Within two weeks, we ll know if the virus spread is growing or not, said Professor Raina MacIntyre, an expert in global biosecurity and infectious disease from the University of NSW.
A man from Sydney s eastern suburbs tested positive to Covid on Wednesday
The man, in his 50s, visited an optometrist located below a quarantine hotel
He has not been overseas of late and does not work in health or with the border
He was very active and visited string of venues on the weekend while infectious
Infectious disease expert said link between optometrist and hotel is possible
Figures show a 20 per cent drop in hospitality check-ins over New South Wales.
New data reveals that 48 million people checked in to venues in April, compared to 66 million in January.
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello on Thursday said residents had become complacent with the ongoing pandemic. We ve taken it for granted that we live in this great island nation, and … we think that we re immune, but clearly we re not, Mr Dominello told 2GB.
Sydneysiders grown complacent after QR check-ins fell by 20% across NSW (pictured: woman using QR Code)
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello reminded high risk venues such as hospitality, pubs, cinemas that it s a legal obligation to enforce QR codes (pictured: women at Sydney bar)
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian came under fire for going so hard, so fast with the restrictions - but she hit back and said the government s response was extremely proportionate .