Coronavirus NSW: Cases plummet but cluster continues to spread
NSW has recorded just one locally acquired coronavirus case in its previous 24-hour reporting period as the state looks to suppress a recent surge in infection in Sydney.
The case is a household contact of a known case attached to the Lakemba GP cluster and was recorded in the 24 hours up until 8pm on Thursday night.
The Lakemba cluster now stands at 16 while investigators are yet to determine its source.
However another two cases have been reported since then which will be recorded in Saturday’s official numbers.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was “critical” the public responded to instruction from NSW Health to curtail the ongoing spread of the virus.
The two cases are a staff member and a child at the Great Beginnings childcare centre in Oran Park in Sydney’s southwest after a confirmed case from the Liverpool hospital cluster had attended the centre on October 1,2,8 and 9.
NSW Health are asking anyone who visited the Great Beginnings childcare centre to immediately isolate while they are determining whether to instruct casual contacts to do so.
The drop in daily cases comes as welcome news to health authorities after Ms Berejiklian warned the state was “on the verge” of a substantial outbreak following 11 locally acquired cases on Wednesday.
There were six local cases announced on Thursday.
There were a total of five cases on Friday, four of which were in hotel quarantine.
Anyone who attended the A-Z Medical Centre in Lakemba between September 25 and October 2 are asked to go and get tested.
The state’s sewage surveillance program also detected traces of the COVID-19 virus in raw sewage at a treatment plant at Quakers Hill in northwest Sydney.
Eased hospitality restrictions rolled out
Up to 500 people are now allowed to attend open-air concerts, as long as they stay seated and remain four metres apart.
Restrictions for outdoor dining venues have also been relaxed, allowing one patron per two square metres, as long as venues use an electronic QR code to record patrons' contact details.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian flagged further easing of restrictions next week, depending on how case numbers go over the weekend.
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