SYDNEY, Jan 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Sydney reported four new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, with concerns over potential spread to rural centres.
Health officials confirmed the four cases were linked to an existing cluster, involving a liquor store in western Sydney suburb of Berala, which reached 15 cases.
However, they also flagged an additional case, detected overnight and not included in today’s figures, which involved an 18-year-old man, who travelled to vulnerable regional communities in the State of New South Wales (NSW).
“An 18-year-old man… travelled from Berala to Orange, Nyngan and then Broken Hill for a camping trip,” Acting NSW Premier, John Barilaro, said.
“This is a reminder of what can occur for people who are moving out of Sydney.”
Officials urged residents from these towns in NSW to be tested, with plans to establish additional clinics.
Meanwhile, the state of Victoria reported three additional cases attributed to a Thai restaurant cluster, involving a total of 27 infections, which authorities said was linked to the Sydney outbreak.
Concerns grew over an upcoming international cricket match between Australia and India, scheduled to be played in front of up to 48,000 people over five days, beginning Thursday, at Sydney Cricket Ground.
The possibility of a super-spreader event prompted officials to slash the stadium capacity from 50 to 25 percent this week, however some health experts called for no spectators to be allowed to attend.
“The safe thing to do is to say, look, we are in a health emergency here, it’s time to make decisions on the basis of health, rather than economy and sport, and that we want to get back to normal,” Australian Medical Association President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said.
To meet public health concerns, officials moved to ban only spectators from the suburbs, with recent cases.
“Ticket sales have gone, in a way that is aimed at ensuring that people from particular suburbs around Berala do not acquire tickets, and do not come to the Test. That’s for your sake and for our community’s sake,” NSW Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, said.
Spectators from those suburbs who attend the match face a 1,000-Australian-dollar fine (767.36-U.S. dollar), if they are caught.– NNN-AGENCIES
