Concern grows as Sydney Covid case numbers jump again
NSW has recorded 12 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday morning, premier Gladys Berejiklian said authorites were worried about exposure sites spreading far beyond suburbs plunged into lockdown at midnight.
The state officially recorded 29 new cases in the 24-hour period to Saturday, but 17 of those were already reported yesterday.
"We had more than 55,000 people come forward for testing in the last 24 hours and I want to thank everybody for hose high rates of testing, but unfortunately that's where the good news ends," Ms Berejiklian said.
"Those additional cases unfortunately have been in exposure sites outside of those local government areas that we had previously determined were our most concern."
Crisis meeting to determine next move
Ultimately, lockdown measures for more Sydney suburbs could be on the cards, the NSW premier warned.
She will hold a crisis Cabinet meeting this afternoon to consider health advice and the next move regarding restrictions.
“The reason for our additional concern this morning is because the exposure sites have now increased beyond those areas of concern that we had,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This variant of the virus is contagious and transmissible like no other variant that we've seen, and that is why the New South Wales Government will take any necessary action it needs to take.”
The premier said she was "putting everyone on notice" that greater lockdown measures may be required.
Of the 29 new cases, 28 are linked to exiting known positives. One remains under investigation.
Perhaps most worryingly, only 12 of the 29 new positive cases were insolation when they were infectious.
"Only 12 of the 29 cases were in isolation through their infectious period. So that means that each of those cases not in isolation will generate exposure venues," chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant warned.
She urged those in Greater Sydney to be cautious and not move around the city unless absolutely necessary.
There have been 82 locally acquired cases since June 16.
A total of 80 cases are now linked to the Bondi cluster and 20 of these cases are associated with the West Hoxton Park birthday party, NSW Health said.
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