NSW has made masks mandatory in Greater Sydney from midnight after reporting seven new cases and introduced new restrictions for certain indoor venues; Victoria reports 10 new cases all linked to the Sydney cluster. Here's the latest.
One of Australia s first ever coronavirus patients has died nine months after catching the disease - without any trace of the virus left in his system.
The NSW man died on December 21 of respiratory complications from coronavirus after he was first diagnosed in March.
He was the first Covid-related death in NSW since September 19.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant said he recently tested negative to the virus. He was a household contact for a locally-acquired case and although his death is considered to be related to Covid, that s based on the doctors completing a death certificate as to the cause of death, Ms Chant said.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged shoppers to avoid Sydney s CBD tomorrow during the traditional Boxing Day sales.
Ms Berejiklian again called for Sydneysiders and visitors to limit any activity in the CBD as the state recorded seven new locally acquired coronavirus cases.
Of the seven new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, four are linked to the Avalon cluster and three are under investigation. The cluster has passed 100 cases. Please, we want to discourage people, she told reporters today. We know this is not the easiest message to give to those retailers but we want to discourage people go to the CBD tomorrow.
Meanwhile, a child yesterday tested positive for coronavirus outside of Sydney s Northern Beaches cluster.
NSW Health confirmed to 9News the young patient was connected to the Paddington Alimentari Deli in the city s east â with four cases now linked to that venue.
The child s results came in after 8pm, and will be officially counted in NSW Health s case numbers today.
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The new infection is in addition to the seven other locally acquired cases recorded in NSW yesterday.
In a Christmas press conference, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said six of the cases were already in isolation, and that health authorities expect to more cases appear in coming days within households already isolating together.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health authorities remain concerned about the possibility of a city cluster. We are still concerned with potential spread through the CBD, she said. We want to discourage people going to the CBD tomorrow [for Boxing Day shopping]. Please limit your activity.
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Beachgoers socially distance at Sydney s Bondi Beach on Christmas Day as seven more Covid-19 cases were announced. Berejiklian thanked the pathologists who worked through the night to return the results in a timely way. She also gave credit to Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner for opening the NT border to all NSW residents, except those who have been to the northern beaches.