Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW records 22 Covid cases, outbreak at 71; 4 Sydney LGAs in lockdown
Gladys Berejiklian has come under fire over ‘confusing’ restrictions, as parts of Sydney face a week-long lockdown after 22 new cases.
- ‘Confusion’ over Sydney lockdown
- Four Sydney LGAs forced into lockdown
- Sydney records 22 cases, outbreak at 71
- Workers forced to ‘stay home’
- PM promises new quarantine facilities
We have now finished today’s live coverage of the latest developments in Australia’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what happened today.
Four Sydney local government areas will go into lockdown from 11.59pm tonight, affecting up to one million people, after 22 new Covid cases were reported, taking the current outbreak to 71. The LGAs have been issued ‘stay at home’ orders that will be in place for a week.
Here’s what the new rules look like.
Rhiannon Down10.15pm:Sydney edges closer to lockdown at midnight
Millions of Sydeysiders are edging closer to a week-long lockdown that will keep anyone who lives or works in four hotspot LGAs at home under health orders from midnight tonight.
Anyone who lives or works in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick LGAs will only be able to leave home for essential work and study, medical purposes, shopping and exercise, bringing the nation’s biggest city to a stand still.
It comes as NSW’s list of exposure sites surpassed 150 venues on Friday, with 59 locations for close contacts and 95 for casual contacts currently live.
Some 26 public transport routes have also been added and 12 venues have been listed as ‘monitor for symptoms’ only.
New restrictions are in place, these restrictions apply to anyone who currently or in the past 14 days has lived or usually worked in one of the four LGAs. pic.twitter.com/8wLfkZyJHv
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) June 25, 2021
Rhiannon Down9.30pm:More exposure sites added to the list
NSW has added further exposure sites to its rapidly growing list, as new viral fragments are discovered in multiple sewage networks across Sydney.
Diners at the Lyfe Cafe in Bondi at any time on Friday June 18 and Saturday June 19 have been identified as close contacts and must get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Lean Bean Fitness in Bondi, specifically the Baby Mumma Beans class, Moore Park View Hotel in Waterloo and the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington have also been added to the list of exposure sites.
Meanwhile, anyone who visited The Cosmopolitan in Double Bay, La Piadina in Bondi Beach, Woolworths Metro Bondi Beach and Scoop Wholefoods in Bondi Beach has also been put on high alert with new exposure times listed making them casual contacts.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – ADDITIONAL VENUES AND SEWAGE DETECTIONSâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 25, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of additional venues visited by confirmed cases of COVID 19, as well as sewage detections in Ireland Park and West Camden. pic.twitter.com/XrRlmpimP4
This comes as a string of eateries and retail spaces were added to the list of exposure sites this afternoon, including: Lotus Barangaroo, Indigo Café in Double Bay, Urban Grind Cafe in Chipping Norton and Woolworths - Royal Randwick, among many others.
Several bus routes zigzagging from various city stops to Bondi Junction and Parramatta were also added to the list.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – ADDITIONAL VENUES AND SEWAGE DETECTIONSâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 25, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of additional venues visited by confirmed cases of COVID 19, as well as sewage detections in Ireland Park and West Camden. pic.twitter.com/XrRlmpimP4
Viral fragments have also been detected in more sewage networks across the city including Lough Park, Auburn, Maroubra and St Marys.
“NSW Health is aware of recently confirmed cases of COVID-19 isolating in these catchments. However, we urge everyone in and around these areas to be vigilant for any symptoms that could signal COVID, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever,” the health body said.
“If they appear, please get tested and self-isolate immediately.
“The latest sewage detections are in addition to those announced earlier today in the Ireland Park, West Camden, Cronulla and Bourke catchments.”
Patrick Commins8.30pm:State poised for post-lockdown boom
Victoria will go from the nation’s laggard to leader, with the fastest-growing economy in the country next financial year, as it plays catch-up following last year’s lengthy lockdowns.
Westpac analysis of economic forecasts contained in the latest round of state budgets show pent-up consumer demand in Victoria will drive a 6.3 per cent lift in economic activity in 2021-22.
This is almost double the 3.25 per cent growth anticipated by NSW Treasury for its state, and well ahead of the next strongest performer, South Australia, where officials anticipate growth of 3.5 per cent.
Despite the recurring Covid outbreaks and occasional short lockdowns, Westpac senior economist Andrew Hanlan said the state budget estimates were likely to prove conservative, as they implied national economic growth of 3.9 per cent – well short of around 5 per cent as anticipated by Westpac and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
This also suggested scope for further upgrades – to both the pace of the recovery and the size of the deficits, Mr Hanlan said.
Read the full story here.
Lydia Lynch7.50pm:PM chooses Labor seat for quarantine hub
Scott Morrison has rejected claims his push to build a new quarantine hub in a Labor-held seat is politically motivated.
The Prime Minister has offered to pay for a purpose-built facility at an army barracks in Brisbane, sounding the death knell for the Palaszczuk government’s Wellcamp plan near Toowoomba.
In a one-and-a-half page letter to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, seen by The Australian, Mr Morrison said the Wellcamp proposal “does not meet some key requirements” and proposed Damascus Barracks at Pinkenba, near Brisbane Airport, instead.
Ms Palaszczuk has been lobbying for the Toowoomba quarantine centre to be built in Groom, the second safest federal Coalition seat in the country, since February.
Wellcamp was killed off on Friday, as was an earlier pitch to use a mining camp near the central Queensland city of Gladstone, in the vulnerable Coalition-held seat of Flynn.
Mr Morrison’s preferred site is in Wayne Swan’s old seat of Lilley, now held by federal Labor backbencher Anika Wells, and is in the state LNP seat of Clayfield.
Read the full story here.
Agencies 7.30pm:Africa faces ‘brutal’ third wave
Africa is facing a vicious coronavirus resurgence, with unprecedented hospital admissions and fatalities pushing health facilities to the brink as the continent falls far behind in the global vaccination drive.
With just under 5.3 million reported cases and around 139,000 deaths among its nearly 1.3 billion people, Africa is still the world’s least-affected continent after Oceania, according to an AFP tally.
So far African nations have been spared disasters comparable to Brazil or India. But the pandemic is resurging at an alarming rate in at least 12 countries, with continental cases expected to hit a record peak in around three weeks.
“The third wave is picking up speed, spreading faster, hitting harder,” World Health Organisation Africa director Matshidiso Moeti warned Thursday. “The latest surge threatens to be Africa’s worst yet”.
READ MORE: Premier rebuffs lockdown calls
Agencies6.15pm:Israel resumes indoor mask requirement amid virus spike
The Israeli health ministry reimposed a requirement Friday for masks to be worn in enclosed public places following a surge in Covid cases since it was dropped 10 days ago.
The spike in new infections is a blow for a country which has prided itself on one of the world’s most successful vaccine rollouts.
The head of Israel’s pandemic response taskforce, Nachman Ash, told public radio the requirement came after four days of more than 100 new cases a day, with 227 cases confirmed Thursday.
“We are seeing a doubling every few days,” Ash said. “Another thing that’s worrying is that the infections are spreading. If we had two cities where most of the infections were, we have more cities where the numbers are rising and communities where the cases are going up.” Ash said the rise in cases was likely due to the highly contagious Delta variant first seen in India.
Reimposing the mask requirement is a setback for Israel, coming so soon after it was lifted on June 15 on the back of a successful vaccination campaign.
Some 5.2 million people have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, after Israel obtained millions of doses.
READ MORE:Greg Sheridan — If you hate Bibi and Israel, you probably hate Jews
Remy Varga4.40pm:Surgery sidelines Victoria’s quarantine minister
The minister responsible for hotel quarantine in Victoria will delay her planned return to work until at least August after undergoing multiple surgeries on her bowel.
Lisa Neville, who suffers from Crohns disease, was due to return to work at the end of June after going on leave in February.
In a statement on Friday, Ms Neville said she was anticipated by the delay to her return but said her doctors had advised her she was not able to physically return to work due to various complications relating to her treatment.
“In my case, by the time my initial surgery occurred on 6 April, the small bowel was in a critical condition,” she said.
“I was in hospital for four weeks following surgery, including one week in the Intensive Care Unit given the seriousness of my condition.
“On 15 April a second surgery was required for yet another complication of Crohns.
“Even after I returned home ongoing complications meant I was admitted for further week in late May to try to get my symptoms once again under control.
“My surgery involved removal of the terminal ileum of the small bowel, leading to malabsorption of key electrolytes, which require me to have weekly infusions to give my body the nutrients it is struggling to keep.”
Ms Neville said she was shaken by the experience and had spent a week in intensive care.
“I miss work, but these jobs are not something you can do part time. You have to be able to give it your all. As frustrating as it is, I am just not at that point yet,” she said.
“My goal is to take the next few weeks to get on top of these post-surgery impacts and focus on my medical team’s plan to get my medication right, so I can be confident I can come back at full strength.”
Remy Varga4.20pm:Family of Melbourne case cleared of Covid
The family of the second Melbourne case linked to the Sydney outbreak has tested negative, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says.
In Victoria’s daily coronavirus update, Professor Sutton said contact tracers had identified a number of exposure sites on buses, trains and retails in Black Rock, Burwood East, Forest Hill, Oakleigh and Sandringham.
“The second case, a workplace contact of the first case, got tested yesterday and received a positive result yesterday afternoon,” he said. “His family has been isolated and have tested negative. The business was closed yesterday for deep cleaning.”
Victoria’s Department of Health exposure site website had yet to be updated.
Staff Reporters4pm:Concern for up to 900 Sydney salon clients
A hairdressing business in Sydney’s Double Bay, the Joh Bailey salon, has been listed as a venue of concern after three staff, linked to a close contact, tested positive to Covid-19.
NSW health authorities are worried about up to 900 clients who visited the salon between June 15 and June 23.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said this morning she expects more positive cases to emerge from those linked to the salon, and has urged anyone who visited it in that eight-day period to get tested and isolate.
Adeshola Ore3.30pm:ACT slams border shut to Greater Sydney
The ACT will close its border to Greater Sydney from 4pm today, after the state recorded 22 new cases.
Anyone who arrives from the region will be required to follow NSW’s stay-at-home orders until next Friday, July 2. NSW health authorities today moved to lock down four local government areas (LGAs) to ensure they have not missed any chains of community transmission.
The ACT will now extend the stay-at-home order for the four LGAs and apply them to anyone who enters the territory from Greater Sydney. This does not apply to the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong or Shellharbour regions.
ACT Health urged non-residents from Greater Sydney and the surrounding regions to not enter the territory.
It said exemptions would only be granted in “extraordinary circumstances.”
“Even if an exemption is approved, you will still be required to follow the stay-at-home order in the ACT.,” a statement read.
“Anyone who was seeking to travel from Metropolitan Sydney to the ACT after 4pm on 25 June 2021, and who had previously completed an ACT declaration form, you must now seek an exemption to enter the ACT.”
Rhiannon Down3.05pm:Couple fined for Covid-positive trip
A Victorian couple who went on a road trip from Melbourne to Queensland through regional NSW while infected with COVID-19 have been issued fines for breaching health orders.
The 48-year-old man and 44-year-old woman have been stung with a $1000 bill from NSW Police for the jaunt that took them up the Newell Highway, sparking infection scares in several regional towns along the way.
NSW Police said while the numerous stops at retail stores, food outlets and service stations were deemed ‘essential stops’ a visit to a Dubbo cinema has been ruled to be non-essential activity under the health orders.
“Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District have since advised the 48-year-old man and 44-year-old woman they will each be issued a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID-19,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“The Queensland Police Service are expected to serve the PINs on behalf of the NSW Police Force today (Friday 25 June 2021).”
The pair were also hit with hefty fines of $4003 from Queensland Police last week.
Staff Reporters3pm:Sydney’s stay-at-home order in a nutshell
There are only four reasons that people across four Sydney local government areas can leave home from 11.59pm tonight.
They are:
• Shopping for food or other essential goods and services;
• Medical care or compassionate needs;
• Exercise outdoors in groups of 10 or fewer;
• Essential work, or education, where you cannot work or study from home.
Jess Malcolm2.35pm:Qld orders some travellers into strict isolation
Queensland authorities have ordered any travellers who have recently returned from the four local government areas in Sydney to follow Sydney’s lockdown rules.
Travellers from Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick or Sydney who are now in Queensland since June 11 must follow the NSW stay-at-home order.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says these measures will be enforced from 1am tomorrow.
“If you have been to one of the four local government areas, from 1am tomorrow, 26 June, you must stay where you are and only leave for the permitted purposes,” she said.
These people must not leave their home except for four essential reasons: shopping, essential work or education, caring, exercise and medical appointments.
Adeshola Ore2.05pm:Victoria quarantine facility confirmed
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham says the commonwealth will retain ownership of a new purpose-built quarantine facility in Victoria, after Scott Morrison wrote to state leaders promising to build new hubs.
The Prime Minister has offered to build quarantine hubs in Queensland and WA, provided the states cover their operational costs. Mr Morrison also confirmed a new purpose-built quarantine facility in Victoria, agreed to by the Commonwealth and state government earlier this month, would be located in Mickleham.
Senator Birmingham said the Victorian facility would cost “hundreds of millions of dollars” to construct.
“They’re not cheap exercises,” he said. “Victoria’s proposal is that they will operate it as they will the existing and many hotels across Victoria but the commonwealth will retain for the long run to be able to retain ownership.”
He said the facility would allow Victoria to boost its cap of incoming travellers.
Jess Malcolm1.55pm:Vaccination jabs top 7 million across Australia
Australia has officially administered over 7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines, Health Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Mr Hunt thanked Australians for coming forward to be vaccinated.
“Thank you to each and every Australian who has come forward for their vaccination,” he wrote. “You are helping to save lives and protect lives.”
Australia has now passed 7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered.
— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) June 25, 2021
Thank you to each and every Australian who has come forward for their vaccination. You are helping to save lives and protect lives. pic.twitter.com/nZFvwd0lND
Erin Lyons1.50pm:Study reveals alarming long-Covid trend
Five per cent of people diagnosed with Covid-19 during NSW’s first wave last year were still experiencing symptoms three months later.
The largest study of Covid-19 recovery in Australia also found young people, men and those without comorbidities (two or more diseases or medical conditions) generally recovered faster.
NSW Health late on Thursday released the findings from the study, which tracked close to 3000 people diagnosed with Covid-19 between January and May 2020.
Academics from the health department and UNSW determined 93.4 per cent of people recovered, and 80 per cent of those had recovered within 30 days.
Some 1.8 per cent died, and 4.8 per cent were still experiencing symptoms.
Most of those who said they hadn’t recovered months later were mainly still experiencing cough and fatigue.
“We know a lot about acute clinical presentations where people end up in hospital but much less about those who get less severe forms of the disease,” UNSW Associate Professor Bette Liu said.
She said the study suggested the need to consider not only hospitalisations and deaths but also the long-term health impact of Covid, particularly those with less severe forms of the disease.
“This study indicates that prolonged recovery from Covid-19 looks to be a significant problem for many Australians,” Dr Liu said.
“It is well known that Covid-19 severity increases with age and with the prevalence of other illnesses or underlying health conditions, so it’s unsurprising that we found recovery was slower and less likely in these groups.”
However, 2 per cent of people younger than 30 were still experiencing symptoms three months after being diagnosed, she said.
“This study demonstrates how important it is that we all protect ourselves from Covid-19 through following public health advice, including hand hygiene, physical distancing and testing, as well as getting vaccinated when it is your turn,” Dr Liu explained.
READ MORE:Instant transmission pushes tracers to limit
Yoni Bashan1.30pm:Gladys’ clever words conceal monumental failure
Commentary: The outbreak of COVID-19 coursing through Sydney’s eastern suburbs was caused by a monumental failure of government policy concerning airport workers, but it is the people of NSW who are now being sacrificed to pay for it.
Starting tonight, millions of residents who live or work in the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick will once again be confined to their homes much like they were forced to do during the pandemic’s peak in April 2020.
These restrictions will continue until next Friday, we are told, with no guarantee they will not be extended further, as they were in the Northern Beaches in January, or in Victoria last year.
Gladys Berejiklian used clever language to deliver this unpalatable measure. She refused to use the word “lockdown”, instead selling this as an anodyne restriction on “four local government areas”, as though the City of Sydney, with its galleries, restaurants, department stores and a casino, was just another suburban LGA, like Randwick or Waverley.
READ the full story
Nicola Berkovic1.15pm:Christian Porter launches appeal
Christian Porter has launched an appeal against a decision to stop his high-profile barrister from acting for him in his case against the ABC and claimed that a small group of people, led by the public broadcaster, have embarked on a campaign to damage him.
The former attorney-general is appealing the ruling to oust his barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, from acting for him, even though he has already agreed to settle the high-stakes defamation dispute.
If he wins the appeal, Mr Porter could succeed in lifting a suppression on sensitive messages between Jo Dyer – who was a friend of the woman who accused the former attorney-general of an historical rape – and high-profile ABC presenter Annabel Crabb.
READ the full story
Jess Malcolm1pm:AMA calls for wider Sydney lockdown
The Australian Medical Association is calling for a city-wide lockdown in Sydney amid concern the delta strain is far more infectious.
President Dr Omar Khorshid has proposed a lockdown of the Sydney basin to avoid “months and months” of a lockdown in Sydney.
“In our view that is not quite enough,” Dr Khorshid told reporters in Canberra.
“What we really need are clear rules for all Sydneysiders that say stay at home so we can get ahead of this virus and stop further transmission. The delta virus is different. It is transmitted far more easily and everyone has acknowledged that it is different.”
Dr Khorshid says while he is pleased there have been further restrictions, he is worried there will be confusion for people who work in the CBD but live outside the area that is locked down.
“If you work in the CBD but live outside of it, we know if you contract the disease you are going to give it to your family. This is happening with the delta virus in Sydney right now.”
“The economic consequences of lockdown are significant but the economic consequences of getting this wrong are catastrophic not just for Sydney but for all of Australia.”
Jess Malcolm12.50pm:Two new Victoria cases are Delta strain
The two new cases of locally acquired coronavirus cases in Victoria both are the highly infectious Delta strain, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has confirmed.
The cases are both linked to the Sandringham Dry Cleaners, triggering Professor Sutton to issue a call out for anyone who went to the exposed site to get tested.
Contact tracers are still conducting interviews with the new cases to determine if there are sites that have been exposed.
Health Minister Martin Foley reiterated calls for Victorians not to travel to Sydney.
“Don’t travel to a red zone in NSW,” he said. “You may not be able to return home.”
There have now been 176 primary close contacts identified with the first case, after the man flew home from Sydney on a Jetstar flight departing at 5.30pm on Sunday evening.
Additional testing clinics have been set up around the Oakleigh and Sandringham areas to ensure any further strains of transmission can be found.
Both cases have been placed into hotel quarantine.
Jess Malcolm12.20pm:No new cases linked to NSW parliament
There have been no further cases linked to NSW parliament, after Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive on Thursday.
Contact tracers are still working through a “small” number of people who may have been momentarily exposed to the virus.
Authorities initially asked all diners at the Stranger’s Dining Room to isolate “out of an abundance of caution”.
Some diners have now been released from isolation, as authorities work comb through CCTV footage and interviews and determine each person’s individual exposure status.
“We are working through the complexities of the workplace at Parliament House and assigning people as either close, casual or no contact and we are working and thank you for the co-operation of the Parliament House staff and the parliamentarians,” Dr Chant said.
“We are looking at the layout of various rooms and they are looking at video to see who sat around (Adam Marshall) and using multiple methods to triangulate this.”
Jess Malcolm12.10pm:Limo driver link still ‘working hypothesis’
Health authorities have confirmed they are unlikely to find the “definitive” link between the source of the outbreak and are unlikely to do so.
The news comes after the limo driver spoke to the Nine network on Thursday night claiming that he was not patient zero, but rather contracted the virus while sitting in Belle’s Cafe.
While the working theory is still that it originated from a positive case in an aircrew, Dr Kerry Chant said authorities could not be more definitive than that.
“Obviously at the beginning when we have a diagnosis in someone who transports flight crew, I think that it is reasonable that we would make that assumption and that is probably on strong epidemiological grounds, that that is likely to be the hypothesis.”
“I think that I have stressed that throughout COVID, have you to keep an open mind to all different ideas, but that certainly, the advice that I’ve had, it’s consistent with that being the most plausible.”
Anton Nilsson12.05pm:What Sydney’s lockdown rules mean for you
People who live or work in some Sydney areas will only be allowed to leave home for four reasons. Read more here
Jess Malcolm11.50am:New exposure sites forced lockdown move
The growing list of exposure sites in NSW is a major reason why some local government areas have been plunged into lockdown, Dr Kerry Chant has confirmed.
Yesterday, the chief health officer said a short, sharp lockdown would not be effective at controlling the spread of the virus.
But health authorities have backflipped on their advice, amid fear there have been several rapid chains of transmission in the last few days.
“The quickest way to bring this under control most quickly is by taking this course of action,” Dr Chant said.
“The fact that our exposure list is getting longer and the fact that we have got confirmed transmission at some of those settings.
“So for instance, we know that some of those exposure venues we have transmitted.”
The current lockdown is in place for seven days.
Jess Malcolm11.40am:Workers in 4 LGAs forced to stay home
Gladys Berejiklian has clarified anyone who works in the listed four local government areas are also subject to stay-at-home orders.
Health authorities have enforced this rule after a number of cases of community transmission emerged in workplace settings.
Up to one million people are expected to be affected by the new restrictions.
“The reason is that a number of what we call the seeding events or the transmissions have occurred because people who might be working in a venue in Bondi or the CBD have come into work,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“They’ve potentially got the virus from a client and been infectious while they’ve kept on working and passed it on to other people.”
“We know that it doesn’t just matter where you live, it also does affect where you work. And unfortunately as a worker, you can get the virus from someone who lives somewhere else and pass it on to your clients.”
Under the new stay-at-home orders, residents are being encouraged to get outdoors for exercise where possible.
People are also allowed to access healthcare if necessary, and buy essential goods and services. Intimate partner visits are also allowed under the orders, as well as attending vaccination appointments.
Jess Malcolm11.35am:Quarantine worker crackdown announced
Health Minister Brad Hazzard has announced a new health order for all workers associated with quarantine and transport at the international airport.
From 4pm this afternoon, all workers must wear a mask. This includes workers on passenger flights, aircrews, all drivers and cargo flights.
Mr Hazzard said there will be a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment and a fine of $11,000.
“There is no excuse for not having had the requirement guidelines,” he said. “When that’s orders are in place, when there is absolute clarity through these orders.”
“Whilst we can’t legislate, whilst we can’t make laws against stupidity, we can remind individuals who are not compliant to keep themselves and therefore, our community safe, that there are substantial penalties and the police, as we heard, will be seeking to enforce penalties as soon as humanly possible.”
The Health Minister has moved to upgrade the public health order after the recent outbreak and lockdown was sparked by an unvaccinated limo driver who was not vaccinated or wearing a mask while transporting aircrew.
Jess Malcolm11.30am:A breakdown of Sydney’s new cases
Of the 11 locally acquired cases recorded to 8pm last night, there were five new ones announced.
One is a man in his 40s linked to the West Hoxton birthday party, attended by previously reported cases linked to the Bondi cluster.
Temporary restrictions are now in place in Greater Sydney, which includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour areas, until the beginning of 1 July.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 25, 2021
There was also a man in his 40s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster.
Of the 17 new locally acquired cases overnight, 14 of these cases are linked to known cases and three are currently under investigation.
Dr Kerry Chant confirmed two of these new cases are linked to the Joh Bailey hair salon and one has been linked to the Bondi Royal Hotel.
Three people had lunch at the Lyfe Cafe in Bondi, and there are seven additional cases associated with the West Hoxton super-spreading party.
“You can see the incredible attack rate we’ve had amongst guests at that party,” she said.
“And as we’re working through this, because that party is some distance away, we’re hoping that everyone was fully in isolation and therefore, posed no further risk to the community at that time,” Dr Chant said.
There were also two close family contacts of a previous case linked to the Bondi Junction cluster.
Jess Malcolm11.20am:One person identified as ‘superspreader’
Health authorities have identified the link between one person who was responsible for numerous cases at the Joh Bailey hairdressing salon, the Fresh Nails salon in Westfield Bondi Junction, the Lyfe cafe in Bondi and the Tropicana Cafe.
Dr Kerry Chant confirmed this person was infectious in the community on June 15 and June 16, including at his workplace Joh Bailey.
Over 900 clients attended this workplace while the man was infectious, and health authorities anticipate case numbers to rise.
Authorities have been racing to source and trace all venues, but remain concerned about the potential for future “seeding events” in the community.
“I’ve got significant concerns for patrons and staff of the Joh Bailey salon in Double Bay, because we have at least three staff members who were working whilst infectious and with two confirmed cases amongst clients so far,” Dr Chant said.
“I expect more cases to be detected over the coming days and I’m urging all clients and staff of Joh Bailey between June 15 and 23 to be tested and maintain quarantine as directed by NSW Health.”
Jess Malcolm11.15am:Four Sydney LGAs sent into lockdown
NSW authorities have moved to lock down four local government areas to ensure they have not missed any chains of community transmission.
Despite the success of contact tracing efforts in finding the links to all of today’s new cases, Gladys Berejiklian said they need to ensure “there’s no stone left unturned”.
“We’ve done better-than-expected in terms of contact tracing and getting on top of all those links,” the NSW Premier said.
“But what this does is make sure that we haven’t missed any chains of community transmission and also that we don’t continue through workers in particular spreading the virus at workplaces.”
The residents and workers within the four local government areas will not be under a strict curfew, and Ms Berejiklian has urged people to avoid panic buying.
“Please know that this is in order for us to ensure that this doesn’t take a hold for weeks and weeks and we believe this is a proportionate response to the risk.”
Jess Malcolm11.10am:Premier announces new lockdowns for Sydney
Gladys Berejiklian has announced a lockdown for four Sydney local government areas: Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and the city of Sydney.
Anyone in these residents must not leave their home except for four essential reasons.
These limits will come into effect from 11.59pm today and will remain in place until midnight, July 2.
NSW recorded 11 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, six of which were announced Thursday morning.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 25, 2021
NSW Health has also been notified of an additional 17 locally acquired cases overnight. These cases will be included in tomorrow's numbers. pic.twitter.com/YQ9dd4HeOd
Existing restrictions announced earlier this week applying to seven local government areas – Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick, City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West and Bayside – have been extended until 12.01am on Saturday, July 3.
These include education, exercise in groups less than 10, shopping for essential goods and providing compassionate care.
This also applies to anyone who has worked in these four local government areas in the past 14 days.
The previous restrictions across greater Sydney have also been extended until next Friday midnight.
The NSW Premier praised NSW contact tracers for finding links between all the links between today’s cases and the source.
“I please start by thanking our health contact tracers who have done an unbelievable job in getting on top of the cases, but also in managing to find the links between all of the cases which previously we weren’t able to do.”
Jess Malcolm11.05am:NSW records 22 new Covid-19 cases
NSW has recorded 22 new locally acquired cases, bringing the total outbreak to 71 cases. There were 11 new cases in the past 24 hours, six of which were announced yesterday.
There were 17 more cases recorded after the reporting cut off period of 8pm last night.
Staff Reporters10.45am:NSW Premier set to deliver Covid update
Gladys Berejiklian will address the media at 11am for an update on the latest Covid-19 cases.
Max Maddison10.35am:Feds open to building more quarantine facilities
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said he is open to constructing more purpose-built quarantine facilities, but he will leave it up to the states to determine what they are used for.
With two additional quarantine sites identified in Queensland and Western Australia augmenting the Victorian facility, the first stage of which Scott Morrison has committed to completing before the end of the year, Senator Birmingham left the door ajar for more facilities to take the pressure off the hotel quarantine system.
“We’re not going to hoist them onto states or territories, but where states and territories have shown a desire or an interest in such facilities, we’re working through those considerations,” Senator Birmingham told Sky News.
“If those state and territory governments wish to work through those options with us, then we will do so as expeditiously as possible, knowing that as a result of the work being undertaken with Victoria, we can move through these things pretty quickly.”
Despite Commonwealth funding, the purpose of the facilities would be left to the states to decide, Senator Birmingham said, but he flagged they could be used to help ease shortages of critical workers.
“What I would anticipate is that they will use it as the first source of housing returning travellers, that they may have in relation to housing travel priority countries or priority cohorts in relation to work,” he said.
“We’re doing it because it’s not just about the short term of managing COVID, but also recognising that perhaps these facilities can play other roles into the future in terms of greater resilience.”
Robyn Ironside10.20am:Canberra ‘slow to talk’ on travel bubble
Singapore Airlines is agitating for discussions with Australia about a travel bubble to help reopen the world. Read more here
Erin Lyons9.50am:Limo driver’s shock claim: I’m not patient zero
Questions have surrounded why an unvaccinated limousine driver was allowed to transport airline crew as Sydney grapples with its latest Covid outbreak.
But the man at the centre of the latest cluster has shared his side of the story, making a bold claim that he doesn’t believe he is patient zero.
The outbreak has sparked a flurry of questions around how the driver became infected.
The limousine driver spoke to A Current Affair‘s Lauren Golman but preferred to remain anonymous amid fears for his and his family’s safety.
Ms Golman then relayed their conversation to ACA host Tracy Grimshaw.
The driver is in his 60s, making him eligible for the AstraZeneca vaccine, and while he said he is not opposed to getting vaccinated, he has some concerns given a history of blood clots in the family.
“He says he has been working with his doctor, they talk regularly, they try to come up with some sort of plan but at this stage he is too afraid to have the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Ms Golman said.
But the most surprising claim is that the man does not believe he is patient zero and instead picked up the virus in the local community.
He told Ms Golman he was not working between June 12 and June 14. He was tested for Covid on Tuesday morning and claims he caught it from another patron at the Belle Cafe in Vaucluse.
Jess Malcolm9.44am:Gladys Berejiklian to speak at 11am
Gladys Berejiklian will address the media at 11am today, alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboy.
The press conference will be given following a crisis committee meeting this morning where senior ministers and health officials will decide whether a change to current restrictions is necessary.
Mr Hazzard will be in attendance after he was released from isolation following a scare when Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive on Thursday sending several other MPs into isolation.
READ MORE:Flights, Coles in growing Covid site list
Lydia Lynch9.24am:Two new Queensland cases, quarantine facility flagged
A new purpose built quarantine facility may be built near Brisbane Airport as Queensland records two new local cases of Covid-19.
Both cases were linked to a Portuguese flight attendant who tested positive at the weekend.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the new cases had been in isolation for their entire infectious period.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered to pay to build the new quarantine hub at Damascus Barracks in Pinkenba if the state government covers staffing costs.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the state received a one-and-a-half page letter late last night and would consider the proposal.
Located about 8 kilometres north-east of the CBD, Mr Miles said the hub would be in “suburban Brisbane”.
The Queensland government had hoped the quarantine camp would be built on the outskirts of Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, ensuring quarantine breaches would not plunge densely populated cities into lockdowns.
Queensland’s cluster now sits at seven cases.
With school holidays starting today, Dr Young advised people not to travel to NSW, including the northern part of the state.
“I believe at this stage anyone in Queensland needs to reconsider if they need to travel to NSW,” she said.
READ MORE:Queensland records two new cases
Jess Malcolm9.23am:No new local cases in Victoria
Victoria has recorded no new locally acquired cases on top of the two that were already announced yesterday.
The positive results came out early yesterday afternoon after a Melbourne man in his 60s tested positive after flying from Sydney on the weekend.
Reported yesterday: 2 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 24, 2021
- 18,019 vaccine doses were administered
- 21,991 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/sISFdfUcrb
The second case is the man’s employer, and both work at Sandringham Dry Cleaners.
There were 21,991 tests conducted yesterday and there were no new cases acquired in hotel quarantine.
The state administered 18,019 vaccine doses yesterday.
Jess Malcolm8.57am:‘Massive’ number of vaccines are coming: Frewen
Lieutenant General John Frewen says Australians should expect to see “massive” amounts of vaccines coming into the country “over the next few months”.
The Covid-19 Taskforce Commander released the government’s vaccination rollout plan on Wednesday, which aims to provide up to 810,000 Pfizer doses per week by the final quarter of the year.
The news comes after reports just four per cent of Australians are fully vaccinated.
Lieutenant General Frewen told Sunrise that Australia was entering a new phase of its vaccine rollout, with authorities working to make sure every Australian who wants a shot can get one this year.
“Through the course of the year, our Pfizer supplies start to really ramp up and also Moderna comes online, and other mRNA vaccines later in the year,” he said.
“By the last three months of the year, we should have wonderful supplies of those vaccines, we have had more plentiful supplies of AstraZeneca up until now.
“We have the locally produced AstraZeneca, but through the year now, you can see from the planning parameters that are put out that we will have much greater access to those drugs particularly in the last quarter of the year.”
READ MORE:Moderna vaccine could be gamechanger
Max Maddison8.32am:Lesson for other states in NSW response: Tehan
Trade Minister Dan Tehan says he hopes other states will learn a lesson if NSW manages to navigate the latest Covid outbreak without needing to lock down.
With fears of a full-scale lockdown across Greater Sydney easing overnight, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has again received praise for withstanding the pressure from sections of the community, saving businesses and millions of citizens unnecessary economic pain.
While the state was still in a precarious position, Mr Tehan said he backed the response of the NSW government, saying it showed lockdowns didn’t have to be the first response of premiers.
“What it would demonstrate is if you can get the testing and the contact tracing in place, then you can minimise the damage to economic livelihoods by being proportionate to your response,” Mr Tehan told Sky News on Friday morning.
“If the NSW government can do this in a proportionate way, the hope is other states will follow suit.”
In response to reports state leaders were reluctant to allow vaccinated Australians to travel, Mr Tehan said if people were fully vaccinated, he was backing exemptions to allow them to travel freely, but conceded any plan was contingent on a certain proportion of the population receiving both jabs.
“The most important thing is if we could get an agreement along those lines, it would support the 600,000 jobs in tourism, the hundreds of thousands jobs in our aviation sector, and also would give another added impetus for people to get out and get vaccinated,” he said.
READ MORE:Proportionate response avoids lockdown
Jess Malcolm8.24am:Police seek legal advice over limo driver
NSW Police have sought external legal advice to decide whether they can take action against the unvaccinated limo driver responsible for sparking the latest outbreak.
The news comes after reports that it was unlikely to prosecute the driver, with authorities saying it is difficult to establish whether the driver knew he had to undergo daily testing swabs.
Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says the health orders at the airport were strengthened last December, but a surge in cargo planes arriving since then has forced authorities to reconsider the settings
“There’s plenty of history on this since the health orders were strengthened last year,” he told 2GB. “The reality is now we’re seeing over 40 cargo planes a day.
“I’ve been receiving mixed messages on whether he knew or didn’t know.
“There’s a fair bit of public outrage on this … and we need to tick every box based on the seriousness of this outbreak.”
READ MORE:Virus ‘will be part of our lives by year’s end’
Adeshola Ore8.15am:SA Liberals write to PM over Nats plan
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham says that he and his other South Australian Liberal colleagues wrote to Scott Morrison to appeal the Nationals’ attempt to change the Murray Darling Basin Plan
On Wednesday, the Nationals proposed major reforms to the plan that would disadvantage the river system in South Australia in the party’s first major policy initiative since Barnaby Joyce returned as Deputy Prime Minister.
Senator Birmingham said he was “deeply disappointed” by some comments made by his Nationals colleagues.
“It does need to stop in terms of attempts to change the laws as they apply in the water act in the operation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan,” he told the ABC.
“The water system is the lifeblood, not just of South Australia, but of so many river communities.”
He reiterated that the government’s policy position had not changed.
“That’s certainly been the topic of discussions that I’ve had with the Prime Minister this week and in all of my South Australian Liberal colleagues who joined with me in writing very clearly to the Prime Minister outlining our position,” he said.
READ MORE: Nats try to blow up Lib water plan again
Max Maddison8.05am:We will ‘robustly defend’ China dispute at WTO: Tehan
Trade Minister Dan Tehan says he’s mystified as to why the Chinese government has accused Australia of anti-competitive behaviour, but says the federal government will “robustly defend” the dispute.
The Morrison government were blindsided on Thursday night after China filed a lawsuit at the World Trade Organisation in relation to anti-dumping measures on Chinese imports, ratcheting up tensions between the two nations.
While Mr Tehan said he was unsure if the action was a response to Australia’s legal action over China’s tariffs on wine and barley, he said Beijing had bypassed the usual process for a trade issue such as this, instead escalating the grievance straight to a WTO dispute.
“We didn’t see it happen with regards to this case. But the actual reasons for this, you would have to ask the Chinese government,” Mr Tehan told ABC News Breakfast on Friday morning.
“What we want is very constructive engagement with China. I sent a letter to my counterpart in early January setting all the ways out we could work together and work through these disputes. I’m yet to have a response.”
READ MORE:Vengeful China takes Australia to WTO
Jess Malcolm7.52am:NSW crisis meeting to reassess restrictions
The NSW government is set to hold a crisis meeting at 9.30am this morning to discuss the state’s response to the latest outbreak.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro is a member of the committee and said authorities will be working to assess whether the current restrictions in place are enough.
At the moment, Mr Barilaro said a lockdown isn’t required based on the current health advice.
“We look at the numbers, 11 cases doesn’t sound alarming but all bar one is a mystery case,” he told Today.
“It is not just the numbers, it is the detail, the information we have behind the scenes that our expert health officials look at that gives us the confidence to make the decision and the advice at this stage is not to lock down.
“At this stage I don’t think we need a lockdown. But that advice could change in the next few hours and it could change over the weekend.”
READ MORE:Premier rebuffs lockdown calls
Jess Malcolm7.44am:Covid fragments detected in Western NSW
NSW Health authorities say Covid-19 has been detected in Bourke, Western NSW for the first time since the pandemic began, sparking fear the virus has already spread into the regions.
The fragments were detected on Tuesday June 22, a treatment which covers around 2000 people.
“NSW Health is urging everyone in this area to be vigilant for the onset of any cold-like symptoms, and to get tested immediately and isolate if they appear.
“Additional testing capacity is being urgently arranged for the local community, details of which will be released as soon as possible.”
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – SEWAGE DETECTION IN BOURKE, WESTERN NSW, AND MORE SYDNEY EASTERN-SUBURB VENUESâš ï¸ pic.twitter.com/OKRLhQK84i
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
Deputy Premier John Barilaro told Today this morning his biggest priority is containing the outbreak to Sydney.
“We have greater resources here,” he said. “Of course we have plenty of test sites and we have our hospital system in place in the regions but it is one that we don’t want in rural and regional NSW.
“Yesterday there were a number of regional MPs, National Party MPs, that were meant to be travelling back home.
“I made it clear yesterday that no-one is to travel home until we get advice from NSW Health, everybody has been tested and, of course, if a decision is made if you’re deemed close or casual, because that will determine what you can or cannot do.”
READ MORE:Fears virus spread 750km from Sydney
Jess Malcolm7.35am:‘This isn’t a joke’: Sydney Covid case’s warning
One of Sydney’s Covid-19 cases has told of her unpleasant symptoms as she battles with the virus.
In a timely reminder to Sydney residents, Emily told 2GB she’s been struggling with nausea and vomiting.
Health authorities think she likely contracted the virus at Christo’s Pizzeria in Paddington after she dined there with friends on Monday night.
“I consider myself to be quite healthy so to be struggling so much is incredibly alarming,” she told 2GB.
“Covid-19 has really knocked me around … I want young people to know that this isn’t a joke, it isn’t a simple flu.
“I’ve had influenza A before and it does not compare.”
Emily has been moved to a NSW Health hotel after authorities deemed her sharehouse an inappropriate place to be while she had the virus.
READ MORE:Cases in China two weeks earlier: study
Jess Malcolm7.28am:Australians ‘sitting ducks’ to Delta variant: expert
Prominent epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre says NSW is “on the brink” battling its latest outbreak calling Australians “sitting ducks” with only four per cent of Australians fully vaccinated.
While admitting NSW has an “excellent” record of getting on top of outbreaks, Professor MacIntyre says the urgency in the way authorities are communiticating is a warning for everyone not to be complacent.
“We’re not like the US or Israel or the UK where there’s a high rate of vaccination,” she said.
“Most people are very vulnerable. However, even in the UK where there’s a quite high rate of vaccination they’re seeing outbreaks of Delta, particularly in schools.
“If the numbers continue to increase it should be considered because a short sharp lockdown can actually save a much longer more devastating lockdown later on if it really gets out of control.”
READ MORE:Fears virus spread 750km from Sydney
Brent Read7.24am:Bulldogs players isolating after visiting exposure site
Canterbury players Dylan Napa, Brandon Wakeham and Aaron Schoupp have been ordered to self-isolate and undergo immediate testing after ignoring a directive from the NRL and attending a hotel known to be a Covid-19 exposure site.
The trio also face sanctions from the NRL while the entire squad has been ordered to stay away from training until the results of the testing is known.
The players attended The Royal Hotel in Bondi on Sunday in violation of an order from the NRL only days earlier mandating that staff and players were to avoid any restaurants, clubs or bars in the Waverley Local Government area.
“The remainder of the Bulldogs squad will not train until the test results of the three players are known,” the NRL said in a statement.
Jess Malcolm7.12am:NSW Deputy Premier in isolation, tests negative
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro is in isolation after being listed as a close contact after spending time with Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall at a budget meeting and dinner.
Mr Barilaro has told Today that so far none of his parliamentary colleagues have tested positive, following 90 tests.
“That’s good news at this stage but, you know, with this variant, it’s possible you could have a positive test on your second or third attempt. I’ll get retested on the 29th and then retested on 4 July.
“I’ll be in isolation until midnight, 6 July, which is the right decision and a number of my colleagues are in exactly the same boat.”
Mr Barilaro said the NSW government will now address the “gaping hole” in the biosecurity system which allows unvaccinated contracted drivers to transport aircrew sparking the recent outbreak.
“I’m a little bit confused myself that it wasn’t mandatory for transport workers to wear the appropriate masks and to put in place all the appropriate processes that somehow it was just a guideline,” Mr Barilaro said.
“I know a lot of people say it’s commonsense when you’re dealing in that scenario. I mean, looking after your own personal health. But, you know, again, it’s an issue, one that we’ve got to now address.”
READ MORE:Infection ‘gaping hole’ warning
Jess Malcolm7am:New warnings for popular Eastern suburbs venues
Health authorities have dramatically expanded their exposure time for popular Double Bay hair salon Joh Bailey after a worker there tested positive for the virus on Thursday.
Anyone who has visited the venue from Tuesday June 15 to Wednesday June 23 inclusive is now considered a close contact and must isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
SKIIN Medi Spa & Wellness, 7 Knox Street, Double Bay also has an extensive exposure time with any visitors to the clinic from Wednesday June 16 to June 21 inclusive is now considered a close contact and must isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
NSW Health is also continuing to urge everyone residing or working in or around Double Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to be especially vigilant for the onset of any cold-like symptoms, and to get retested even if you have recently received a negative result.
Several other eastern suburbs venues have been listed sparking fear the virus is continuing to circulate in the inner-city.
Popular Merivale venue Totti’s has also been relisted, with anyone who visited the venue on Sunday June 20 from 7.50pm to 9.30pm considered a casual contact who is being asked to get tested.
People who have visited the following venues are being considered close contacts and must also isolate for 14 days.
• Lyfe Cafe, 2/154 Glenayr Avenue, Bondi, Wednesday June 16, 12.30pm to 2.15pm
• Royal Hotel, 283 Bondi Road, Bondi, Sunday June 20 from 7.50pm to 9.30pm
• Fitness First Platinum, Westfield Bondi Junction, Monday June 21 from 9.45am to 11.45am
• Michael’s Charcuterie, Shop 17 Cosmopolitan Centre Bay Street, 2/22 Knox St, Double Bay, Tuesday June 22, 1.30pm to 2pm
• Fitness First Spring Street, 110 Spring Street, Bondi Junction, Tuesday June 22 from 5.45pm to 6.45pm
READ MORE:Covid calm: Premier rebuffs lockdown calls
Jess Malcolm6.49am:Large number of new Sydney exposure sites added
NSW Health has released an extensive list of venues and times for numerous shopping venues, cafes and gyms, which could point to grim case numbers later today.
The cluster has now grown to 49 cases, with Gladys Berejiklian calling the situation “the scariest” time NSW has faced since the pandemic began.
But health authorities say contact tracers are not overwhelmed, and are confident the state can head into the weekend without a city-wide lockdown.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call NSW Health.
Saturday June 19
• Cafe de la Fontaine (anyone who entered the cafe), 1A Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, 10am to 11.30am
Sunday June 20
• Coffee, Tea & Me (patrons who dined in), 87 Macleay Street, Potts Point, 9.50am to 10.10am
• Elixr Health Club (patrons in the swimming area, poolside showers and poolside change rooms), Level C2, 9 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction, 2.45pm to 3.45pm
• Cafe de la Fontaine (anyone who entered the cafe), 1A Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, 12pm to 1.30pm and 3.50pm to 4.50pm
Monday June 21
• Cantine Verte Cafe, 1/34-36 Ralph Street, Alexandria, 9.20am to 9.35am
• The Pommery Cafe, 24a Ralph Street, Alexandria, 2.30pm to 3pm
• Cafe de la Fontaine (anyone who entered the cafe), 1A Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, 3.15pm to 4.15pm
Tuesday June 22
• Cantine Verte Cafe, 1/34-36 Ralph Street, Alexandria, 8am to 8.15pm
Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
Saturday June 19
• Cafe de la Fontaine (anyone who entered the cafe), 1A Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, 10am to 11.30am
Sunday June 20
• Coffee, Tea & Me (patrons who bought takeaway), 87 Macleay Street, Potts Point, 9.50am to 10.10am
• Crossroads Homemaker Centre, Corner of Beech Road and Camden Valley Way, Casula, 1.30pm to 2.30pm
• Amart Furniture, 122 Canterbury Road, Bankstown, 2.30pm to 3.05pm
• Gregory Hills town centre, including Woolworths and the Village Bakery, corner of Village Circuit and Gregory Hills Drive, Gregory Hills, 3.30pm to 4.35pm
• Elixr Health Club, Level C2, Bronte Road, Bondi Junction, 2.45pm to 3.45pm
• Cafe de la Fontaine (anyone who entered the cafe), 1A Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, 12pm to 1.30pm and 3.50pm to 4.50pm
Monday June 21
• Michael’s Charcuterie, Shop 17 Cosmopolitan Centre Bay Street, 2/22 Knox Street, Double Bay, 11am to 1pm
• Cafe de la Fontaine (anyone who entered the cafe), 1A Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, 3.15pm to 4.15pm
• Mr Vitamins, Shop 52, Royal Randwick Shopping Centre, 73 Belmore Road, Randwick, 2.20pm to 2.50pm
• Harry’s Bondi, 2/136 Wairoa Avenue, Bondi Beach, 1.50pm to 2.20pm
• Bondi Relish, 141 Glenaryr Avenue, Bondi Beach, 2.35pm to 3.05
• La Piadina, 106 Glenayre Avenue, Bondi Beach, 2.40pm to 3.10
• Wings Dragon, 24 Old South Head Road, Vaucluse, 3.10pm to 3.40pm
• Industrial complex, 32 Ralph Street, Alexandria, 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Priceline Pharmacy, 65 Walker Street, North Sydney, 4.50pm to 5.15pm
• Domino’s Pizza, 246 Merrylands Road, 6.20pm to 6.50pm
• Big Bun, 260 Pitt Street, Merrylands, 6.50pm to 7.10pm
Tuesday June 22
• Woolworths, 75 Crown Street, East Sydney, 8am to 12.45pm
• 7-Eleven, 131 Anzac Parade, Kensington, 12.40pm to 1.20pm
Wednesday June 23
• Kmart, Westfield Parramatta Shopping Centre, 159 to 175 Church St, Parramatta, 11.50am to 12.10pm
READ MORE:Instant transmission pushes tracers to limit
Jess Malcolm6.24am:Victoria records second local case
Victoria has recorded a second case of locally acquired Covid-19 after a man flew from Sydney to Melbourne and then tested positive.
The new case has been linked to a dry cleaners in Sandringham, and it is believed he caught the virus from an employee at the dry cleaners.
Sandringham Dry Cleaner owner Henry Li, 61, tested positive on Thursday lunchtime, the Herald Sun has reported.
His wife and two sons had tested negative on Thursday, but the family was still awaiting results for his nephew.
Mr Li’s employee lives in Oakleigh, and caught a Jetstar flight JQ523 on June 20 leaving Sydney at 5.30pm and arriving in Melbourne at 740pm.
Authorities are still investigating where in Sydney the man contracted the virus, but Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said on Thursday he had attended his daughter’s house in Sydney for an event over the weekend which at the time was listed as a green zone.
The man subsequently tested positive on Thursday morning after returning from Sydney on Sunday.
Anyone who attended Sandringham Dry Cleaners on Bay Road on June 23, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, on June 22, from 10am to 3pm, or on June 21, from 9am to 4pm must also get tested and quarantine for 14 days from the time of exposure.
Seven Tier Two sites were added overnight including Woolworths Burwood East supermarket, Coles Oakleigh Central and the Black Rock Convenience Store.
READ MORE: Melbourne family braves Sydney outbreak
Yoni Bashan5.10am:Covid-19 calm as Premier rebuffs lockdown calls
Health officials in NSW are increasingly confident the state’s contract tracing effort is holding – and a lockdown appeared less likely to be needed – despite the spread of cases outside of Sydney’s eastern suburbs including into Parliament House.
While there were 11 new cases in NSW on Thursday – and three in Victoria – officials said a sense of serious concern from Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the state’s chief health officer, Kerry Chant, had eased as contact tracers managed to track the spread of Covid-19.
There was no discussion of lockdowns nor a request for additional resources, said sources involved in the briefings who were prevented from speaking publicly.
Ms Berejiklian and Dr Chant, however, stopped short of ruling out further restrictions if the number of cases that could not be linked to existing infections grew, with the Premier describing the outbreak as the “scariest period” since the pandemic began.
Employer groups hailed the deferral of a citywide lockdown, describing it as “proportionate and balanced”, although some epidemiologists warned the NSW government was pursuing a high-risk strategy and urgently needed to consider more restrictions.
There are now 49 Covid-19 cases in the city since a limousine driver contracted the virus transporting airline crew and tested positive on June 16.
Investigations into that case are ongoing, with police examining the conduct of the driver and limousine company.
All but one of the cases recorded on Thursday were linked to a known source, with the largest cluster – now 36 infections – still concentrated in Sydney’s east.
Of most concern are three cases whose origins remain unidentified, but that number remained too low to justify a full-scale lockdown to halt the movement of people and catch up on tracing efforts, Dr Chant said.
The unlinked cases include a hairdresser, a nine-year-old child from St Charles Primary School in Waverley, and a healthcare worker – all in the city’s eastern suburbs. No cases have been linked to the nine-year-old but three contacts of the hairdresser have tested positive.
Read more on the Sydney Covid-19 situation here.
Lisa Allen5am:Tourism facing yet another school holidays wipeout
From Lord Howe Island to the Gold Coast, hoteliers report mass school holiday cancellations due to the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
Baillie Lodge founder James Baillie said his up-market 10-suite Capella Lodge on Lord Howe Island had been fully occupied on Tuesday night, but by Wednesday night it had dropped to 30 per cent.
He said Queenslanders were cancelling Lord Howe because they did not want to transit through Sydney Airport.
“Queenslanders don’t want to travel because they have a fear of getting locked out of their state. It’s the same with South Australians and Western Australians, they have a fear …
“They are scared because of the skittish nature of premiers and borders,” said Mr Baillie, adding that Capella Lodge, which charges $1800 a night per couple including partial board, would have attracted a significant number of guests from Sydney’s eastern suburbs, a key Covid-19 hotspot, who have also cancelled.
Hotelier Jerry Schwartz, who owns landmark hotels in the Sydney CBD, Blue Mountains, NSW Hunter Valley and the Gold Coast, said there had been significant cancellations across his 14-hotel portfolio due to the tightened borders.
Read the full story here.
Natasha Robinson4.45am:Airborne transmission pushes contract tracers to limit
It’s the brave new world of contact tracing – the fleeting moments of crossover between individuals for just a second or two that until now would not have been considered a high risk of virus transmission.
The ease with which the Delta variant is infecting individuals has been demonstrated by CCTV footage inside a shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs which showed how the new variant can spread after moments of inadvertent contact lasting only seconds.
The transmission of Covid-19 within Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction among shoppers who only briefly crossed paths, and to an outdoor diner at a cafe who had no contact with an infected case, has proven one thing beyond any doubt – the virus is airborne.
But what is it about the Delta variant that makes transmission following fleeting contact more likely to occur?
“This virus has the ability to grow to a very high viral load very quickly,” said University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay. “So there’s a lot of virus in the airways. And when we breathe that virus out, we’re expelling more virus than we would be if we had one of the other variants that preceded Delta.
“Some of this terminology like fleeting contact, very short contact and inadvertent contact may simply be related to the fact people are walking through clouds of higher concentrations of virus from an infectious person when they’re infected with Delta.”
Read the full story here.
Red alert for AUKUS submarine reactors
A Rolls-Royce program set to supply reactor cores for Australia’s nuclear submarines has been branded as ‘unachievable’ in a blow to the nation’s AUKUS ambitions.
Call for origin labels on imported timber
About a quarter of timber tested in Australia last year had incorrect species or origin labels. The industry wants new laws to prevent it happening and to support Australian producers.