Coronavirus NSW: Four new local cases; regional fans told to avoid the cricket
A man with COVID-19 who travelled from Berala to the bush has prompted the deputy premier to urge rural cricket fans not to travel to the Sydney Test. LATEST COVID NEWS
NSW Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Four new locally acquired coronavirus cases have been recorded in NSW in the last day, with three linked to Berala and one linked to the Croydon cluster.
More than 26,000 people came forward for testing, up about 4000 since yesterday, which Deputy Premier John Barilaro said is “pleasing”.
One case has been reported after 8pm last night.
“An 18-year-old man from Berala, who travelled from Berala to Orange, Nyngan and then Broken Hill for a camping trip,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We’re urging people in Orange, Nyngan, and Broken Hill to be tested,” Mr Barilaro said. “Clinics will be set up in due course. This is a reminder of what can occur for people who are moving out of Sydney.”
Mr Barilaro said that people travelling from rural areas in NSW to watch the cricket Test series should reconsider their plans.
“For regional people who are intending to come to watch the test cricket this week, if you can avoid it, if you can change your plans, I urge you to do so,” he said.
“It could be a simple infection, that then goes back to the region and causes us more concern.
“We’ll be making decisions and possibly changes right up to the first ball.”
Deep cleaning is underway at Birdie Noshery and Drinking Establishment on Orange’s Main Street after an 18yo man with COVID-19 from Berala attended on Sunday. Anyone who was also there from 12.30-2pm should monitor for symptoms. @9NewsCentWest @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com/fE4QyI5YIc
— Naomi Avery (@_naomiavery) January 5, 2021
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said that of the four local cases – two of which were reported yesterday but are included in today’s numbers – one is a man in his 50s who visited Berala BWS, one was a woman in her 40s who visited Berala Woolworths, one was a household contact of a previous case linked to Berala and the fourth was a household contact linked to a previous case in Croydon.
“One further case reported since 8pm last night visited the Berala BWS on Christmas Eve,” Dr Chant said.
“They travelled to western NSW and attended venues in Broken Hill, Orange, and Nyngan.
“This gentleman was totally unaware of the issues, acted promptly on our text message and thank you so much.”
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said that the latest overnight case highlights the fact that the pandemic is an issue for the whole state, not just Greater Sydney.
“This reinforces a message that this is an issue for the whole of NSW,” he said.
“You can’t assume just because you’re in regional NSW that you either don’t have the virus or you’re safe from the virus being transmitted to you.”
Mr Hazzard said that people who reside in Berala and the surrounding suburbs could face a hefty fine if they try to enter the SCG at the upcoming cricket Test.
“If any of you think it’s still OK to come in with someone else who has got a ticket, or tickets, it won’t be OK,” he said.
“Because there will be orders, health orders made, in the next 24 hours, that will enable NSW police to fine you $1,000 if you put one foot inside the SCG.
“If you live in Auburn, Berala, Lidcombe North, regents park or Rookwood, we would love you at the Test in a non-COVID year, but we can’t.”
VICTORIA RECORDS FOUR NEW LOCAL CASES
Victoria, meanwhile, recorded three new locally acquired cases over the same period. 32,544 Victorians were tested in the past 24 hours.
The Department of Health also confirmed one new case in overseas arrivals.
There are 38 active COVID-19 cases across the state.
It comes as Victoria’s health department revealed it has assessed just 175 of 2295 exemption applications for people to enter the state for compassionate or medical reasons.
Queues of cars remain stranded at the border after the Victorian government deemed the whole of NSW a virus red zone and slammed the border shut to the state over New Year’s.
A subsequent outbreak in Victoria has been linked to the cluster in Greater Sydney.
In a statement, the Department of Health and Human Services said it had worked through 175 exemptions on Sunday.
“In all cases, those applying have provided evidence of negative COVID-19 tests. More staff are being deployed to speed up this process,” it said.
PAPERWORK COULD DELAY COVID VACCINE
Astrazeneca’s coronavirus vaccine rollout in Australia planned for March has been jeopardised by a delay in delivering essential data to the federal government.
It’s fallen behind the registration timeline of the rival Pfizer jab which could be approved this month.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that the Therapeutic Goods Administration is not expecting to grant AstraZeneca a provisional registration until February.
But the TGA anticipates Pfizer will move to the next stage by the end of this month.
This is despite AstraZeneca getting through the initial provisional determination step five days earlier, in October.
Paperwork appears to be the impediment.
“The TGA is expecting further data from AstraZeneca in regard to their COVID-19 vaccine in late January 2021,” an administration spokeswoman said.
“Australia is on track to have the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine provisionally registered by the end of January 2021, subject to regulatory requirements being met.”
An AstraZeneca spokeswoman said it didn’t determine timings.
“AstraZeneca is continuing to provide data to the TGA for them to consider,” she said.
Commonwealth chief medical officer Paul Kelly said “the approvals will happen when all the information we need to make those approvals is available.
“That will be fast-tracked as much as possible but no shortcuts will be made,” Professor Kelly said.
“The safety check has to be there before anyone gets this vaccine in Australia. There will be no delays to the rollout of coronavirus vaccine — other than those which are absolutely necessary for safety.”
The government expects final approvals and vaccine rollouts by the end of March.
Israel has already inoculated 12.5 per cent of its population. However, compared to Australia, it is struggling to contain COVID.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said it was important to go through the regulatory steps to ensure public confidence in the vaccine.
Dr Chant yesterday revealed the state had recorded its first 24-hour period of no locally acquired COVID cases since December 15, although two positives were detected after the daily cut-off. Both were connected to the burgeoning BWS Berala cluster.
MASKS TO BECOME THE NEW NORMAL
The state’s top health official says people should “get used to” wearing face masks in public indoor spaces because it is likely to be the norm even after a vaccine is rolled out.
Complying with that requirement right now could help Sydney avoid a complete lockdown, according to the acting Premier.
“It’s probably prudent that we now get used to wearing masks whenever we’re indoors,” chief health officer Kerry Chant said. “It’s unlikely the vaccination will eliminate COVID. We now will need to learn to live with it, and some of the practices of mask wearing will be important.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said people who did not want to wear masks should not endanger the health of others.
About 50 people marched through Westfield Bondi Junction on Sunday afternoon chanting anti-mask messages.
“Well, if they don’t like the idea of a mask, stay home or stay outside,” Mr Hazzard said. “You don’t have to go into the shopping centres and put other people in danger.”
Acting Premier John Barilaro said wearing a mask was important because it gave freedom of movement.
“The masks that are … now mandatory … are important … because of mobility,” he said.
“We don’t want to see further restrictions, we don’t want to go into lockdown.”
BEAUTICIAN, WEDDING VENUE SLAMMED FOR COVID BREACH
A beautician and the operator of an audacious Sydney wedding venue were slammed by police and the state government on Monday for major health breaches as the state’s COVID status hung in the balance.
Cronulla beauty therapist Jess Barca, 27, was notified in Byron Bay on New Year’s Eve she was a close contact of a known case and needed to isolate and get tested.
Police returned to her resort to check on her the next day and fined her $1000 when they found she was not isolating.
On January 3, police checked again and claim they found Ms Barca swimming in the resort pool, fining her a second time.
Asked by Seven News if she felt she had endangered public safety Ms Barca said: “No, I’m a double negative result.”
NSW Police Acting Commissioner Mal Lanyon said: “That obviously puts the rest of the public and herself in significant danger.”
Acting Premier John Barilaro said it was “bloody wrong” for Imperial Paradiso in Fairfield to pack double the permitted crowd into a wedding reception on Saturday night.
Police were tipped off on Saturday that the venue was full beyond its 350-person limit under COVID restrictions.
They arrived at 9.30pm to find between 600 and 700 people at the wedding and told the organiser to kick hundreds of them out.
- Nick Hansen
Join the conversation
Covid cases surge in NSW as 2023 death toll revealed
Covid cases are on the rise in NSW, and the true toll of the virus this year has been revealed, with almost 4000 Australians dying from the virus in 2023.
Read more
Revealed: The Aussie age group still dying from Covid
Twenty-three Australians are dying every day from Covid-19 - but one age group continues to dominate the numbers. Find out who is most at risk.
Read more