Coronavirus Australia: NSW issues new aged care restrictions

New South Wales is to introduce new restriction as the state grapples with an increase in cases following the emergence of a new cluster.

New South Wales had announced new restrictions for aged care following the emergence of a worrying cluster emanating from a gym in Sydney’s CBD.

On Friday night, NSW Health said it now “strongly advised” aged care centres should be off limits to any visitors from Greater Sydney or the Central Coast until 12 September.

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The 14 day bar on entry to care homes is a “precaution” NSW Health has said and there was currently no evidence of any cases in residents or staff in aged care facilities in NSW.

“These are precautionary steps to prevent the entry of COVID-19 into this vulnerable setting,” a statement from the government body said.

On Friday, NSW recorded 13 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number for some weeks.

Six of the new cases are linked to the cluster in Sydney’s CBD centred on the gym of the City Tattersalls Club.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to think about their movements this weekend, warning the government doesn’t want to have to impose further restrictions.

“We have to be vigilant every single day and we had to state that has numbers will go up and down marginally for the next little while and we need to make sure that they don’t get to a situation where we are having to impose further restrictions,” she said