Masks compulsory for Greater Sydney public transport, shops, indoor venues

An infected transport driver is believed to have been linked to the growing Berala cluster, as compulsory mask-wearing kicks in across Sydney.

The growing COVID-19 cluster around BWS Berala, in western Sydney, is believed to have originated with a colleague of a COVID-infected overseas transport driver visiting the shop on December 20.

The colleague is thought to have passed the virus on to a bottle shop worker, who in turn infected a co-worker.

NSW today reported eight new locally-transmitted cases of COVID, five of which were associated with the Berala cluster.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant told a press conference she was not prepared to identify any of the infected people but confirmed that “there are a number of cases associated with the cluster but we are not confirming details of who acquired the infection — an infected person associated with overseas transport worker attended the Berala BWS and that triggered infections that led to this cluster.

“We have identified risk periods, a thousand customers were served on Christmas Eve, that gives you an indication of volume of people we’re looking at,” she said.

CCTV footage is being examined and Ms Chant has urged anyone with symptoms

to get tested.

Members of households who are tested are required to self isolate until the person with symptoms receives their test result.

“What’s concerning is the brevity of exposure that’s led to the transmissions, our aim is to find every single last case,” Ms Chant said.

@NSWHealth has revised its advice for a western Sydney liquor store visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/y8kp55KNsc

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 2, 2021

“We found this leakage, it’s been confirmed by the genomics, people are getting tested, but we need more.

“We are intending to reach anyone who has been there through any records we have.”

MASK REVOLT ROCKS BONDI

Dozens of anti-mask protesters marching through a Bondi shopping centre Picture: Supplied, Source: Bondi Local loop

Dozens of anti-mask protesters have marched through a Bondi shopping centre in defiance of the state government’s decision to made mask-wearing compulsory at some indoor venues in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The protesters swarmed Westfield Bondi Junction on Sunday without wearing masks, with placards asserting their freedom and claiming masks do not protect people against the disease.

A great way to convince people to wear masks is for the government to make them free for those in need, another is to check out the right wing religious fringe who oppose mask wearing. This from Bondi Junction shops today pic.twitter.com/VkRqUWIbxF

— David Shoebridge (@ShoebridgeMLC) January 3, 2021

The anti-maskers walked through crowds of shoppers donning masks with placards attacking the government’s mandate just hours before the NSW Police warned anyone who refused to wear a mask would risk a $200 on-the-spot fine.

The group sang: “I would rather be a human than a slave,” and “you can stick your stupid mask rules up your a***.”

“We are the 99 per cent,” they sang.

VACCINE ROLLOUT ‘AHEAD OF SCHEDULE’