Covid 19 coronavirus: NSW records 18 new cases, Croydon cluster emerges in Sydney

New South Wales recorded 18 new coronavirus cases in the past day, a worrying increase in numbers compared to recent days, and a new group was declared.

Nine of those cases are linked to the Northern Beaches group and six are linked to a new Croydon group in an inner west suburb of Sydney.

All six cases in the Croydon group are members of the same family and the source of the new group is under investigation.

But concerns that the virus is spreading westward were revealed by NSW’s health director Dr. Kerry Chant when she announced that the new group has at least 34 close contacts.

“There are six cases: three adults and three children, all members of the same extended family and all linked to the group in the western interior that we now call the Croydon group,” said Dr. Chant.

“We hope that there will be additional cases linked to that group just because of the number of close contacts and the close family contact that several of those contacts had during the Christmas period and the following days.”

“That Croydon family had multiple meetings over several days. There were (at least) 34 close contacts.

Dr. Chant said researchers had yet to find a link between the Croydon and Northern Beaches groups “despite 24 hours of really intensive research.”

“Not to say we won’t, but at this stage, that’s worrying. We are also doing genome sequencing because, like I said, with Covid you have to keep a very open mind and we will make sure this is the same Avalon. [Northern Beaches] tension, “he said.

“Again, this highlights the fact that Covid could be anywhere, which is why our advice on wearing a mask to maintain social distance in a queue time.”

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian stressed that health officials still had the outbreak under control.

“The health council remains such that we can control the current outbreak,” Berejiklian said.

“I mean obviously the Croydon group is concerning because there is no established link. But in all other cases, there is some crossover with places or regions that we have identified as a concern.

“We ask people to get tested urgently. That gives us an idea of ​​the scope and how many we are dealing with.”

There are three other locally acquired cases that are still being investigated. Two cases, members of the same household, are from the Wollongong area and one is from North Sydney.

Tight restrictions for New Years

Berejiklian announced that there would be stricter restrictions for New Year’s Eve in light of the jump in new cases.

Households in Greater Sydney will now be limited to five people per household on New Years Eve.

“We don’t want New Years Eve to be the cause of a super spreader [event]”Berejiklian said.

“Our preferred advice is for people to stay home for New Year’s Eve, but if you must have people, have no more than five and make sure you have adequate social distancing.”

Tighter restrictions also apply to outdoor gatherings, which have been reduced from 50 to just 30 people.

Additional restrictions have also been announced for Sydney nursing homes.

“As a precautionary measure, until we better understand community transmission across Sydney in general, we are taking a very preventative approach with senior care visitors,” said the NSW Medical Director.

“Therefore, until at least 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6, we are asking that all residential care facilities for the elderly exclude visitors, except those who perform essential care functions and obviously at the end of life”.

The prime minister asked anyone in the state with even the slightest symptoms to come forward for testing in an attempt to overcome the outbreak.