Covid 19 coronavirus: struggle to find ‘missing link’ in Sydney cluster

New South Wales health chiefs are in a race against time to figure out how two of the most recent cases of the Sydney outbreak relate to northern beaches.

Health Director Dr. Kerry Chant said yesterday that there was a “missing link” around two cases.

Both have been genomically linked to northern beaches, but neither has a direct connection to the virus’ hotspot.

It is the latest mystery with the Avalon cluster, with the so-called ‘patient zero’ still unknown or how the virus reached the Sydney peninsula.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced yesterday that New South Wales has registered eight new cases related to northern beaches, as well as another eight in hotel quarantine.

The northern beaches have now been divided into two zones for Covid purposes with restrictions around Christmas depending on whether you are in the north or south of the beaches, or in the rest of Greater Sydney or further afield.

“If you are a resident of the northern part of the northern beaches, if you live north of the Narrabeen bridge and east of the Bahai temple on the Mona Vale roads, you cannot leave your area. You are still locked up,” Berejiklian said. He said of the area around Avalon that he continues to have strict measures in place.

“You cannot accept anyone outside of your community and I apologize for that, but we have to maintain a blockade in that area.”

‘Recipe for confusion’: Christmas Covid plan slammed

Berejiklian yesterday announced a number of modifications to Covid restrictions in and around Sydney over the Christmas period, and it’s fair to say that some people are a bit perplexed by them.

“What a joke,” said a person on Twitter before the new guide, which now differs depending on which of the four areas you live.

In some cases it is essentially Christmas as usual, but if you are on the northernmost beaches of the northern beaches, you can only have five people for Christmas dinner and all must be from the neighborhood.

“A recipe for confusion,” said one social media user.

Comedian Dan Ilic compared the rules to a cell phone plan. “Maximum 10 people per household + Children under 12 years old unlimited”.

Kristina Keneally, a Labor senator and former prime minister of New South Wales, chided the current prime minister for failing to provide enough details on where exactly the worst-hit area would be.

“Can you provide an accurate map of the northern beach division as soon as possible?” Said Ms. Keneally, who pointed out that three different media had three different limits.

Only later did NSW Health provide a map of the northern part of the beaches.

Others were perplexed that there was any relaxation in the restrictions.

“The New South Wales government wants to ease restrictions for Greater Sydney for 3 days and then return to current restrictions. I did not know that Covid would take a break over Christmas,” was one of the reactions.

“Investigations are continuing on the source of the Avalon cluster,” said another.

“Hey, why not ease the restrictions for three days?”