NSW has recorded zero new local COVID-19 cases for a second consecutive day, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying she’s “pleased” with the state of the current outbreak.
However, the link between an infected eastern Sydney man and an international traveler with the same COVID-19 strain remains unclear.
Sydneysiders are again wearing masks on public transport, in supermarkets, and during rideshare trips as health officials try to figure out how a strain of COVID-19 escaped hotel quarantine and infected the man.
The man, in his 50s, duly infected his wife.
In a statement, NSW Health said no new cases were recorded from more than 22,000 tests in the 24 hours to 8 pm on Friday. Six new cases were diagnosed in hotel quarantine during that time.
Restrictions for Greater Sydney were reimposed on Wednesday, including mandatory masks in indoor settings and public transport, a 20-person cap on indoor gatherings, and a ban on most singing and dancing.
Authorities on Saturday issued a health alert for customers who visited Double Bay Woolworths.
Anyone who attended the store between 10:45 and 11 am last Monday, May 3, must get tested immediately and isolated until a negative result is received.
A complete list of exposure sites can be found on the NSW Health website.
New Zealand to Lift NSW travel ban.
New Zealand has extended its suspension of quarantine-free travel until midnight on Sunday, when it will restore regular travel links unless further significant developments exist.
NZ enacted the travel pause on Thursday in response to the two new community cases of COVID-19 in Sydney.
Despite NSW health officials still not identifying the missing link between the positive tests and quarantine, COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins is satisfied the risk to Kiwis has dissipated.
“There has been a close liaison between the health agencies,” he said on Saturday.
Mr. Hipkins said the NSW risk assessment was that “the two community cases in Sydney are contained and that there is no evidence of widespread undetected community transmission”.
NZ’s travel ban to the entire state was in stark contrast to other Australian states – which essentially chose only to ban travelers who had visited exposure sites.
Ms. Berejiklian on Friday urged businesses to stay open and Sydneysiders to show up for their Mother’s Day reservations on Sunday. “Every time we go through this in NSW, we learn from what we experience, learn from what we did well or didn’t do well, then we can apply it into the future,” Ms. Berejiklian said.
The premier said she was “pleased” with the current state of the outbreak.
“The only concern for us is that at least one person has been in the community going about their business for a few days, having the virus and not knowing they have it … it could be more than one,” Ms. Berejiklian told the Nine Network. We’re just saying to people: go about your daily business; just be extra safe.
