Covid 19 coronavirus: NSW registers 9 new cases, Sydney group grows

New South Wales has recorded nine additional coronavirus cases, six of which have been linked to the Avalon (North Beaches) group and all are linked to the same household.

An additional case was acquired locally in Bondi with no link to the Avalon group, which puzzled health authorities. The case is believed to be a false positive or an old case and remains under investigation.

In light of the new cases, New South Wales Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian said she would not ease restrictions as the state puts up “hard courts” to restore normalcy as soon as possible.

“There are still concerns about CBD and there are still concerns about people on northern beaches who may have inadvertently spread the virus without knowing they have it,” he told the media.

Northern Beaches residents will remain under strict stay-at-home provisions.

Berejiklian said these restrictions will be in place for “the next three days or so.”

Northern Beaches MPs Jason Falinski and Zali Steggall have voiced support for the state government’s strategy and its decision not to legally enforce the wearing of masks.

Speaking on ABC 24, Falinski said the state was treating people like adults.

“What seems to have worked in New South Wales, as opposed to other jurisdictions around the world, is that if you treat your people like adults and not prisoners, you get a much greater acceptance of the measures that you are taking,” he said.

“If this didn’t work, I’m sure the NSW government could go from a suggestion scenario to a mandatory one.”

Also appearing on the show, Steggall agreed.

“I feel like we are striking the right balance between allowing people to do the right thing without becoming a full police state. I think we must entrust people to do the right thing,” he said.

By comparison, Victorians must still wear masks. Mandatory state directives state that people must wear a mask at all times when away from home, unless they have a reason not to.

New Year’s Eve celebrations are at stake

Sydney residents will have to wait the next few days for official restrictions around New Years celebrations.

Although Berejiklian thanked the community and said New South Wales was making “good progress”, New Year’s Eve and the first weeks of January are still unclear.

“There are some basic things that I can communicate very strongly today. I mean, everyone should assume they are watching the fireworks from home this year,” he said.

Most likely, hospitality venues adhere to the “four square meter rule” as opposed to the “two square meter rule.”

“We don’t want to spend a single day or a single hour imposing something that we don’t have to do, and that is why we are doing things the way we are,” he said.

“We appreciate that people had a really difficult year.”