Two Sydney suburbs on high COVID alert due to one person
NSW authorities have issued an urgent warning for Sydney’s south-east after one person who tested positive for COVID-19 visited a number of venues across two suburbs.
The announcement came on Monday night, and while NSW Health says there are no alerts for specific venues - the positive case visited multiple places in Kingsford and Ramsgate areas throughout the first half of October while possibly highly infectious.
NSW Health flagged that anyone who has visited the two suburbs, especially cafes, in those two weeks should be on the lookout for symptoms.
The warning follows after a positive case in the area was first alerted last Thursday.
"NSW is at a critical point, and the only way to find new cases and prevent further transmission is to increase testing," a statement said.
"This is particularly important in south eastern, south western, and western Sydney as well as in south western Sydney and western Sydney where there have been recent locally transmitted cases."
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that several COVID-19 restrictions would be easing slightly on Tuesday morning.
A group booking of up to 30 people will be allowed in restaurants, instead of the previous restriction of 20.
Guests allowed at weddings will also be raised to 300 from December 1.
Ms Berejiklian is also asking people to consider going out for Christmas events because it's safer than meeting at home.
"The health experts agree and have given us advice that it would actually be safer to go to a restaurant or a hotel or somewhere which is COVID-safe to have your Christmas lunch rather than indoors in a confined space," Ms Berejiklian said.
The Premier said that the easing of restrictions did not allow groups to stand and mingle at indoor events.
"We are not at the point yet where we can allow mingling," she said.
The four-square-metre rule for indoor venues and the two-square-metre rule for outdoor venues will continue to remain in place, Ms Berejiklian said.
Ms Berejiklian said the easing of restrictions was good news.
However, she has maintained that it is important people follow the COVID safety guidelines.
"We never want to be in a position where we have to go backwards," she said.