Five new coronavirus cases in NSW, Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirms as stadium restrictions eased - ABC News

Health authorities in NSW have confirmed five new coronavirus infections in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

Two of them are returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

Two of them are locally acquired and linked to known cases or clusters, including one at Concord Hospital in Sydney's inner west.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant confirmed there were now 21 cases in the Liverpool and Concord hospitals cluster, including eight staff.

Dr Chant said a new case attended the Eastern Suburbs Legion Club, in Sydney's Waverley, bringing the cluster to nine.

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the other infection was someone in a border community and could be a false positive.

"The second test they had was negative so that's still being evaluated," she said.

Ms Berejiklian said there was "no doubt" easing the border restrictions brought risk to her state.

"Anything can happen around the corner and especially now the border is easing between NSW and Victoria, it adds an element of risk," she said.

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The Premier said her Government was considering a staggered approach to allowing Victorians across the border again, initially restricting Melburnians to entering via Sydney Airport only.

"It could be without pre-empting any advice or decisions ... it could be relief around checkpoints but for Melburnians in the first instance, and asking Melburnians to still come through Sydney Airport.

"But we do want to ease the pressure where there's little to no risk."

Ms Berejiklian said she appreciated South Australia's position on border closures but flagged discussions had opened up between the two states on freedom of movement.

Presently no NSW resident is permitted to travel more than 50 kilometres into South Australia except if they qualify as an "essential traveller".

"They're open-minded, they're looking at the data and they're giving us some clear time frames," she said.

But she confirmed no conversations had proceeded between her and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who have traded public barbs in what has become a frosty relationship.

"With Queensland, the door is locked, bolted and no conversations are continuing, unfortunately."

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More than 20,000 tests were completed in the reporting period, more than double the lower testing rates recorded Sunday and Monday of this week.

Ms Berejiklian also said social-distancing restrictions on stadiums in NSW would be relaxed.

Stadiums will now be permitted to have crowds at 50 per cent capacity for major events, up from 25 per cent.

That means Parramatta Stadium will be able to have 15,000 people at events, the SCG will be able to welcome 23,000 people and Stadium Australia will have a maximum capacity of 40,000.

A checkerboard seating pattern will socially distance people in the stadium, Dr Chant said, and the one person per four-square-metre rule will apply.

Ms Berejiklian said people would "be expected" to wear masks while going to and from their seats.

Health authorities also flagged that Five Stars Thaitanic restaurant in Casula on Saturday, September 12 from 4:20pm to 5:20pm should monitor for symptoms.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA5LTE3L25zdy1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1maXZlLW5ldy1pbmZlY3Rpb25zLXN0YWRpdW0tcnVsZXMtcmVsYXhlZC8xMjY3MjIyNNIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjY3MjIyNA?oc=5

2020-09-17 01:16:00Z
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