COVID NSW: Restrictions set to ease, woman visited hospital during isolation

Dozens of Sydney suburbs are on alert after virus traces were found in sewage. It comes as strict restrictions are set to ease.

Strict COVID restrictions implemented on Sydney amid the Avalon outbreak are set to be eased next week.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has indicated that next week a decision is likely to return restrictions “as closely as possible” to the rules in place before the December cluster was discovered – but masks are set to remain mandatory in certain settings.

Ms Berejiklian said as long as cases remain low and testing rates remain high, “there’s no reason why we can’t go back as closely as possible to pre-Avalon (outbreak) conditions, with the exception potentially of masks in some high risk settings”.

The Premier highlighted concerns around wedding limits – with numbers currently capped at 100 people.

“This is the last weekend you’ll have to go through before there’ll be some relief,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Capacity of venues could also be increased under the two square metre rule.

“Generally speaking we are keen to get as close to Avalon conditions as we can,” the Premier said.

Masks are set to remain mandatory amid greater concerns about mutant strains of the virus.

Senior ministers decided not to ease restrictions because “the best health advice is that we should wait another week before we ease restrictions,” Ms Berejiklian said.

No new local COVID cases were recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, marking the third day in a row of no community transmission.

There were 19,959 tests processed in the reporting period, compared to 10,621 the day before. Three returned travellers in hotel quarantine tested positive to the virus.

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” the Premier said of the increased testing numbers.

Despite test numbers rising after usual lows over the weekend, NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty said the rates “are still insufficient to provide confidence that chains of transmission will be picked up”.

VIRUS TRACES FOUND IN SOUTHWEST SEWAGE

NSW Health is asking residents in southwest Sydney to monitor for symptoms after traces of the virus were identified in sewage at a treatment plant in Glenfield – which services 160,000 people.

Those who live or have travelled to the following suburbs should get tested immediately if they experience any symptoms:

Airds, Ambarvale, Appin, Bardia, Blair Athol, Blairmount, Bow Bowing, Bradbury, Campbelltown, Casula, Claymore, Currans Hill, Eagle Vale, Englorie Park, Eschol Park, Gilead, Glen Alpine, Glenfield, Gregory Hills, Holsworthy, Ingleburn, Kearns, Kentlyn, Leumeah, Long Point, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Menangle Park, Minto, Raby, Rosemeadow, Ruse, St Andrews, St Helens Park, Varroville and Woodbine.

WOMAN BROKE ISOLATION FOR ELECTIVE SURGERY

An elderly woman and close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case broke her self-isolation period to undergo elective surgery at a northern Sydney hospital.

The patient, 82, attended Macquarie University Hospital on January 17 despite needing to stay in isolation until January 24.

A Macquarie University Hospital spokeswoman said the hospital is working with NSW Health to find any close contacts of the woman.

“Macquarie University Hospital was made aware by authorities that a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case had attended the hospital,” she said.

Macquarie University Hospital.

“The contact had not disclosed their proximity to the confirmed COVID-19 case and following the disclosure from authorities we took steps to identify staff that may have come into contact with the patient as well as informing NSW Health.

“Macquarie University Hospital remains open and continues to follow all NSW Health guidance in relation to hospital admissions.”

The woman has reportedly tested negative to the virus.

Healthcare workers administering a COVID-19 test at a drive through test centre at Bondi Beach, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

NO REASON FOR BORDER CLOSURES: PREMIER

In comments that sparked a fresh volley of attacks from her state counterparts, Ms Berejiklian said there is no reason for borders to be closed.

“Is the current risk worthy of having border closures? No,” she said. “But is it worthy of maintaining our restrictions in relation to those high-risk activities, those indoor venues, and mask wearing? Yes.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Travel from NSW to Western Australia is still banned without an exemption, with WA Premier Mark McGowan on Tuesday lashing out at Ms Berejiklian over her border comments.

“I just urge the NSW Liberal government to stop — their constant criticism and carping is getting tiresome,” he said.

 He vowed to “fight” what he said were “attempts to bring down the health measures that have worked in states like WA”.

Health authorities are urging residents to get a coronavirus test if they experience even the mildest of coronavirus symptoms. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty

Queensland and Victoria require travellers from NSW to apply for an entry pass, with anyone from certain hotspot areas banned without an exemption.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday he would ease restrictions “as soon as we can possibly make that change”.

Federal chief health officer Paul Kelly reiterated that there were “no hot spots in Australia, at least from the commonwealth perspective”.

The fresh border stoush comes ahead of Australia Day celebrations, which will operate with greatly reduced crowds in the city.