Sydney virus cluster grows as local transmission jumps
NSW has recorded five new locally acquired coronavirus cases in the 24-hour period to Saturday.
Two cases in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine were also diagnosed.
There were 14,378 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with 16,391 in the previous 24 hours when the state recorded just a single locally acquired case.
All five cases are linked to a known source or cluster. Three of today’s locally acquired cases are a family who attend the Great Beginnings Childcare Centre in Oran Park. While another of today’s new local cases is an educator who works at the centre.
All four cases are close contacts of a known case linked to the Oran Park cluster, which now numbers 18.
The fifth locally acquired case today is a student who attends Oran Park High School. Staff and students have been asked to self-isolate.
Covid-19 testing will be ramped up in the southwest Sydney suburb as Saturday sport has been cancelled for Oran Park High School.
"Weekend activities at the school, including basketball and physical culture have been paused," NSW Education said in a statement.
Restrictions ease in NSW
This weekend brings eased restrictions in NSW for outdoor venues, with up to 500 people allowed to attend open-air concerts so long as they stay seated and four metres apart.
Limits on outdoor dining venues have also been relaxed, allowing one patron per two square metres with venues to use an electronic QR code to record contact details.
Meanwhile, the NSW government on Saturday conditionally approved more than 350 skilled workers from Fiji to help fill a labour shortage in the state's abattoirs.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the first intake was expected in mid-November.
He said the arrivals would not be considered part of the airport cap and workers would be required to undergo the same stringent quarantine requirements as other international arrivals.
"This is a common-sense solution to minimise disruption to supply chains and an important step towards securing the state's food supply," Mr Marshall said.
"We have worked closely with industry to understand what labour is required during these challenging times."
with AAP
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