Coronavirus: Gladys Berejiklian urges shoppers to skip CBD Boxing Day sales

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued an extraordinary plea to Sydneysiders to stay away from the CBD during Saturday’s Boxing Day sales.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and chief health officer Kerry Chant arrive for a news conference on Friday. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued an extraordinary plea to Sydneysiders to stay away from the CBD during Saturday’s Boxing Day sales, citing ongoing uncertainty around Covid-19 transmissions and concerns ­relating to cases identified at a ­Circular Quay venue.

In a move likely to heavily dampen retail sales, Ms Berejiklian and the chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant implored ­consumers to avoid or limit their time in the CBD over the weekend and to shop online or locally as an alternative.

While the vast majority of the state’s Covid-19 cases have so far been confined to Sydney’s northern beaches, officials have begun expressing heightened concern over three recent cases linked to the Paragon Sports Bar, in Circular Quay, and a separate cluster that has formed in the nearby suburb of Paddington.

“We know that tomorrow traditionally is a day for Boxing Day sales. We know this is not the easiest message to give to those retailers, but we want to discourage people going to the CBD tomorrow; please limit your activity,” Ms Berejiklian said during a press briefing.

The Premier’s call was backed by Dr Chant, who advised consumers to buy online or within their suburbs to avoid the possibility of crowded shopping venues.

“We acknowledge the work that the industry has done to put in safe Covid-safe plans for those Boxing Day sales but, please, you have a number of alternatives,” Dr Chant said.

She added that if people ­insisted on venturing into the CBD then they should, at minimum, wear a mask.

Christmas Day marked the 10th day since the first instances of Covid-19 were detected in the suburb of Avalon, on the northern beaches, leading to a series of restrictions across Greater Sydney and a cluster that has since surged to 108 cases. In the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday there were seven new cases of the virus detected out of 69,809 people tested, another ­record-setting number of tests, ­officials said.

Of those cases, six were said to be household contacts of people already isolating for the virus. Ms Berejiklian said cases of this kind were likely to continue emerging over the coming days and weeks.

Dr Chant said an eighth case, detected after the reporting ­deadline, was confirmed in a child who attended the Alimentari Deli, located in the suburb of ­Paddington, a cluster that now amounts to four people.

Ms Berejiklian also expressed her gratitude to Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael ­Gunner, who on Thursday reopened the border to all NSW ­residents, with the exception of those hailing from the northern beaches. Ms Berejiklian has previously rebuked other state and territory leaders for closing borders as the first cases of Covid-19 began to be detected last week.

“He’s been consistent the whole way through,” Ms Berejiklian said of Mr Gunner. “The Northern Territory’s response is measured and proportionate to the risk and I ask that other premiers and chief ministers look at that as well.”

Queensland recorded two fresh cases of the virus, including a man aged in his 30s and another in his 40s, an international arrival. The man in his 30s has been linked to an earlier case who arrived on a superyacht from the Maldives on Thursday. The state is currently managing 12 active cases to the 141 currently in NSW.