Coronavirus NSW: Two local cases, Hillsong blasts church restrictions

NSW has recorded two new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and three in hotel quarantine with health officials declaring the state is at a “critical point” in stopping the spread. Meanwhile, Hillsong has blasted restrictions on churches.

• Wedding limits and gathering rules ease in NSW
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NSW has recorded two new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 with health experts declaring the state is at a critical point in stopping the spread.

There were five new cases in total with three in hotel quarantine.

The two local cases are linked to known clusters.

“One locally acquired case is a household contact of a previously confirmed case linked to the Liverpool private clinic cluster, which now has a total of 12 cases. The other locally acquired case is a close contact of a confirmed case linked to someone who attended the childcare centre at Oran Park,” NSW Health said in a statement.

Those in the south east area of Sydney are urged to get tested. Picture: James Gourley

There were 7,401 tests recorded in the latest 24-hour period.

Officials said the only way to stop the spread of the virus is to keep being tested if you develop symptoms.

NSW Health was unable to identify “specific venues of concern” in a public health alert for South East Sydney last night because the infectious person could not specifically remember which venues they had visited.

The alert identified Kingsford and Ramsgate as areas visited by the person while infectious, but no specific venues had been identified.

There was no suggestion on Tuesday that the person was failing to co-operate with contact tracers.

Health authorities believe the case visited “several cafes” but only for a short period of time while ordering takeaway.

It’s understood that the case didn’t spend long enough in any venue for others to be considered “close contacts”

HILLSONG FOUNDER BLASTS NSW CHURCH RULES

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has urged church leaders to “unite to take (a) stand” against government restrictions which he claimed are getting close to discrimination.

“We are all committed to keeping people safe but it seems churches are not even being considered for a steady easing of restrictions,” he wrote on social media.

Brian Houston. Picture: John Grainger

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing the easing of rules on Monday. Picture: Steven Saphore

“So interesting that the NSW Govt (sic) are about to allow 300 people to attend an indoor wedding, and things are being relaxed for the hospitality industry, but still no change for churches.

“We have a building with space for 4,000 people yet can only have 100 in there. Reason given is “church ppl know each other (are to friendly). Do you think people are not friendly at weddings? It is getting to the point where it is discrimination.”

DAN ANDREWS HINTS AT MORE RULES EASING

Victoria has recorded just one new case and zero deaths from coronavirus in the past 24 hours.

Victoria now has 122 active cases and 11 people are in hospital with none in intensive care.

Ten healthcare workers are among the active cases.

The consistently low cases numbers led the Premier to hint Melbourne could see an early easing of restrictions next week.

“I think we’re well placed to reach the point on the weekend where we can talk more and possibly bring forward some of those changes that were slated for November 1,” he said.

“We are well placed this weekend to be able to make very significant announcements about a further step to opening.

“We still have a few days, obviously, to run this week and things can change rapidly. But Victorians, I think, and particularly Melburnians, can be confident, can be absolutely optimistic, that the strategy is working.”

However, Daniel Andrews was quick to refute rumours any rules would be eased before the AFL Grand Final on Saturday.

“I’ll stand here on Sunday and hopefully be able to confirm for Victorians that when it comes to retail, pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, as well as a number of other settings, that we can have what’s been termed a dark opening for, say, the first one or two days of next week and then we can be up and running from then. It’s not appropriate for us to try and bring that forward,” he said.

Originally published as Coronavirus NSW: Two local cases, Hillsong blasts church restrictions