NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned the state is at a “critical point” in its battle to stamp out coronavirus after it recorded the highest number of new infections in months.
The state recorded 20 new coronavirus cases on Monday, all of which were linked to known sources.
It is the highest number of new daily infections recorded in NSW since 19 April, when the state reported 21 cases.
“Our state continues to be on extremely high alert," Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Monday morning.
"But we also know our state continues to be at a critical point — we have the opportunity to isolate the cases that we have to clamp down and to make sure we reduce the incidence of the virus spreading.
"Unfortunately, other places don't have that opportunity."
There are now 96 people in hospital and two in intensive care, including one person in their 30s.
“I think it always is important to highlight that because often we tend to say, ‘this disease affects the elderly’, and it does on average, but there will still be young people that are impacted and it is a call-out to everyone to take COVID-19 very seriously,” Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said.
Ms Berejiklian urged people to heed health advice.
“The next few weeks are critical,” she said.
“Please avoid large crowds. Please think twice about going into any place which has crowds in it, even when you are social distancing.”
Of the new cases announced on Monday, three are linked to the Casula Crossroads Hotel cluster in south-west Sydney, bringing the total cases there to 48.
Meanwhile, Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on the NSW South Coast has been forced to close its doors for two weeks after eight people who attended the venue tested positive, including a staff member.
Anyone who attended the club on 13, 15, 16 or 17 July has been advised to immediately self-isolate for 14 days.
"The concern in Batemans Bay is the ageing population down there and the transient nature over the school holidays of the population," NSW Police Minister David Elliott told the Seven Network on Monday.
"Make sure you don't put yourself in a position or situation where you can pass (the virus) on."
The NSW Member for Bega, which includes Batemans Bay, Andrew Constance said he was "very worried" about the outbreak in Batemans Bay, describing the Soldiers Club as a "bedrock of [the] community".
"It's been a tough year for Batemans Bay between the fires and now this," he told the Seven Network on Monday. "We are going to see hundreds of people needing to isolate as a result of this."
Mr Elliott also labelled a 60-strong house party in northwest Sydney's Schofields on Saturday night "stupidity at the highest level".
He said he hoped all 60 people would be hit with $1,000 fines for breaching health orders, as police intend.
Of that 60, 30 will also be punished for refusing move-on directions from police.
It comes as NSW is set to enforce tougher coronavirus border restrictions for people looking to enter from Victoria.
From midnight on Tuesday, a border zone will be set up along the Murray River and criteria for cross-border travel will be tightened.
All current travel permits will be cancelled and residents in the border zone who wish to move between the states will have to reapply.
Travel will only be allowed for work, education or for medical care, supplies or health services.
"The growing rates of community transmission in Victoria have us on high alert," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said in a statement.
He said the new protocols will make it harder to obtain a permit and make it easier for the government to cancel them.
Cars try to cross from Victoria into NSW earlier this month.
Getty
If NSW residents travel beyond the border zone into Victoria, they will be forced to self-isolate for two weeks when they return.
Border residents will be able to from Monday afternoon check online to see if their address falls within the new restrictions.
Among the changed permit requirements, staff or students of boarding schools or universities must self-isolate for two weeks and obtain a negative swab before attending school.
Seasonal workers from Victoria are also banned from entering NSW.
NSW students also began returning to school on Monday.
Mr Constance, the NSW transport and roads minister, said 3,300 extra services that were added to the state's public transport last month would continue as about 200,000 NSW students return to the classroom.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. People are also advised to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Additional reporting by AAP.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMidGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNicy5jb20uYXUvbmV3cy9uc3ctYXQtYS1jcml0aWNhbC1wb2ludC1hZnRlci0yMC1uZXctY29yb25hdmlydXMtY2FzZXMtcmVjb3JkZWQtZ2xhZHlzLWJlcmVqaWtsaWFuLXdhcm5z0gGkAWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnNicy5jb20uYXUvdjEvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlL25zdy1hdC1hLWNyaXRpY2FsLXBvaW50LWFmdGVyLTIwLW5ldy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1jYXNlcy1yZWNvcmRlZC1nbGFkeXMtYmVyZWppa2xpYW4td2FybnMvNmNlNjE0MjctY2JjNi00YjMxLTk0ZWEtMzVlMTQyYzY2ZTM3?oc=5
2020-07-20 02:03:36Z
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