Summary
- There were 15 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases reported on Monday, all linked to the northern beaches cluster
- A final decision will be made about Christmas Day restrictions on Wednesday.
- There is concern the virus may have spread beyond the northern beaches but no other seeding events have been identified so far.
- More than 38,000 people came forward for testing in the latest 24-hour reporting period, the most ever tested in NSW.
- A new, potentially highly transmissible strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in hotel quarantine in NSW is a cause for concern, say experts.
Latest updates
The beaches are a 'ghost town' as businesses stay positive
By Tim Barlass
For many traders the week before Christmas is a magical time for business. For northern beaches residents in a five-day lockdown, it's time to get creative.
Jason Langendam, co-owner of Keel Surf & Supply at Freshwater, is doing just that. Never mind getting your takeaway delivered, they'll deliver boards, fins, clothing and accessories.
Jason Langendam and Natasha Leywood at their surf shop Keel Surf & Supply in Freshwater. Credit:James Brickwood
"We are just adapting with the times," he said. "We are just trying to drive people online and to pick up in-store with contactless collection. We have just employed a deliveries driver."
UK records 33,364 cases and 215 deaths
The United Kingdom recorded a further 33,364 COVID-19 cases on Monday and 215 deaths of people who had tested positive for the virus within 28 days.
That compares with 35,928 cases announced and 326 deaths on Sunday.
Reuters
Masks should be mandatory: NSW Labor leader
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay said masks should be mandatory in all of Sydney as the number of affected venues continues to grow.
"We've had over 11 ferry and bus and train routes where there has been somebody using the routes who has coronavirus. So it is important that we're looking at high-risk situations," she told ABC News Breakfast. "My view is that until it's mandatory, people won't wear a mask."
When asked if a harder lockdown should be implemented across Sydney, Ms McKay said it would depend on the numbers of new cases recorded today.
"My heart goes out to everyone who had planned on spending time with their family and trying to get back to some normality after a challenging year," she said. "For us, it will depend on the numbers each day as to what we call for from the Government, but right now, as I've done for most of the year, I am supporting the Premier and the decision that she's made."
Photographs of empty streets and queues at testing clinics
Shoppers usually line up to get last-minute Christmas gifts, but this year they are lining up at COVID-19 testing clinics. The Sydney Morning Herald's photographers have captured these photographs from around the city.
Residents lining up at a pop-up coronavirus testing clinic in Mona Vale on Monday.Credit:Nick Moir
Mask wearing in Sydney remains voluntary despite research showing how effective they are Credit:Sam Mooy
Thousands line up for COVID-19 testing at Lilyfield on Monday. Credit:Steven Siewert
Australia records two cases of new virus strain
By Rachel Clun
A new, potentially highly transmissible strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in hotel quarantine in NSW is a cause for concern, say experts who predict it will continue to spread around the globe.
But Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, who was appointed to the role on Monday, said there was no need to introduce tougher measures on returned travellers.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said on Monday there was no need to stop people from England returning to Australia.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
"Everyone coming from the UK is going into 14 days of hotel quarantine and they are of no risk as that quarantine works so successfully, as it has done for the most part here in Australia since the beginning," he said.
Sydneysiders must wear masks, experts say
Epidemiologists have urged Sydneysiders to wear masks and be more cautious than the public health orders issued to help prevent a coronavirus cluster from further seeding across the city.
Dr Fiona Stanaway, a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Sydney School of Public Health, said it would take "several weeks" to confirm whether the northern beaches cluster had been contained.
People shopping at the Strand Arcade on Monday.Credit:Sam Mooy
Four people caught the virus at a Turramurra hair salon, one at an Erskineville pub and additional cases were linked to a CBD workplace, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant confirmed on Monday.
Dr Stanaway said Sydneysiders should take precautions beyond those legislated in the health order, and not go out to hospitality venues, and should wear masks on public transport.
ANU Associate Professor Senjaya Senanayake, an infectious diseases physician, said masks should be made mandatory in Sydney in indoor areas and on public transport.
"It think that's really a no brainer now," he said. "If [the government] thinks it's an important measure they should make it mandatory."
More than 100 Sydney venues on COVID-19 alert list
Late on Monday night, NSW Health updated its list of venues that have been visited by confirmed COVID-19 cases, and also updated potential exposure times for previously announced venues.
The list now numbers more than 100 venues, including restaurants, cafes, gyms, supermarkets and other locations across the city.
There are now 79 venues across Sydney that are of such concern that NSW Health recommends any people who have visited them at the specified times and dates to get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
For another 61 venues of concern, it recommends that people monitor for symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
You can read see the full list of venues below, or on the NSW Health website here.
Christmas Day celebrations in the balance
Good morning and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, as authorities race to try to extinguish coronavirus spot fires that are spreading beyond the northern beaches.
Here's a quick update of where we stand early on Tuesday morning:
- There were 23 new cases of COVID-19 reported in NSW on Monday. All 15 locally acquired cases were linked to the Avalon cluster, bringing that outbreak to 83 cases. The other eight cases were returned international travellers already in hotel quarantine.
- Several of the newly diagnosed local cases were infected at venues beyond the northern peninsula, putting health authorities on high alert. One additional case is linked to The Rose in Erskineville in the inner west – taking the pub's total to two cases – and five cases are linked to a workplace in the CBD after people who caught the virus in Avalon visited the venues while unknowingly infectious.
- Christmas Day celebrations across Sydney hinge on what happens in the next 24 hours and whether health authorities can stop the spread of the northern beaches outbreak.
- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will make a final decision on Wednesday as to whether restrictions will be tightened over Christmas.
The source of the Avalon cluster is still unknown.
Stick with us throughout the day and we'll bring you the latest developments as they happen.
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2020-12-21 19:02:00Z
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