NSW records 18 new infections amid concerns lockdown could be extended

The Bondi outbreak continues to balloon and now an expert fears Sydney’s lockdown could be extended beyond the two weeks.

NSW recorded another 18 cases on Monday and there are concerns the citywide lockdown could be extended beyond the original two weeks.

Residents in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas are under strict stay-at-home orders as the Bondi outbreak continues to grow.

Speaking to Sunrise earlier today, Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton issued a warning, saying it is possible the lockdown could be drawn out.

Sydney has entered day two of lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

“Two weeks is the amount of time you need to make sure that you actually keep an eye on it in terms of first round of infections, but potentially there will be seeking going on beyond that time, so let’s see how the contact tracers go,” she told the panel.

“Fingers crossed, but I've got to be honest with you, I’m feeling a bit nervous it might go on for longer.”

She said the small number of unlinked cases was good news.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the 18 new infections on Monday, saying all but one had been linked.

Though the unlinked case was in the “same vicinity” of the outbreak, the Premier said.

NSW Health said the mystery case was possibly exposed at Westfield in Bondi Junction.

The news comes as Sydney enters its second day of a two-week lockdown while other states and territories battle their own Covid spot fires.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed the new numbers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Only a third of Monday’s new infections were in isolation for the entire infectious period, while three were in isolation for part of that time.

“But some, unfortunately, were active in the community,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“As (chief health officer) Dr Kerry Chant has told us already, the cases we are seeing today are a reflection of what may have occurred in the previous week and obviously there is a lag time on the time we are able to record these cases.

“While the numbers today are less than the numbers yesterday, we have to be prepared for the numbers to bounce around and we have to be prepared for the numbers to go up considerably.”

Ms Berejiklian said this was because almost all household contacts were catching the virus if one household contact was infected.

The 18 cases came from more than 58,000 tests in the latest reporting period.

Two South Coogee Public School students are included in Monday’s numbers. They are close contacts of two other students who tested positive on Friday.

More than 500 students at the school were considered close contacts and were in isolation. There is no impact to on-site learning given it is now school holidays in NSW.

People queue for testing at Bondi Beach, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Meanwhile, a seafood business in Sydney’s inner west has been put under the microscope.

Several cases are linked to the Great Ocean Foods wholesaler, at 5/11 Cadogan Street in Marrickville.

Another five cases recorded on Monday were linked to the wholesaler, bringing the outbreak to 16.

NSW Health was so concerned about the exposure there that entire households that received deliveries had been told to isolate and get tested.

Two new cases are linked to the West Hoxton birthday party bringing that outbreak to 31, including 24 people who acquired it at the actual party. The others are household contacts.

A case announced yesterday in the Glen Innes is included in today’s numbers.

The man in his 30s was exposed to the virus at the Granites gold mine in the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory.

He has been in isolation and is not a risk to the community.

NSW recorded 18 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Fifteen of these cases are linked to the Bondi cluster, two are close contacts of a previously reported unlinked case. pic.twitter.com/yeMUWZ24Ly

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 28, 2021

Ms Berejiklian did warn residents on Sunday that the situation would get worse before it gets better.

“Given how contagious this strain of the virus is we do anticipate that in the next few days case numbers are likely to increase beyond what we’ve seen today (Sunday),” she said.

“Because we are seeing that people in isolation, unfortunately, have transmitted (the virus) to all of their household contacts.”