‘Green shoots’ of lockdown’s end as NSW records 35 local cases - Sydney Morning Herald

For the second day in a row, NSW has recorded its highest number of local COVID-19 cases over the past year, as government and health authorities express optimism that Sydney’s lockdown may still be lifted at the end of Friday, 9 July.

NSW recorded 35 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday. There were 56,331 tests processed in the reporting period.

Twenty-nine of the new infections were linked to previously confirmed cases and six remain under investigation.

“We have seen those testing numbers stay at very high levels consistently during the lockdown,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, noting the “green shoots” of what the lockdown was meant to achieve had begun to emerge but it was too early to say when her government and its health experts would be able to make the call on whether the lockdown is extended beyond Friday.

Nine of the new cases were in the community during their entire infectious period, a decline from 12 in the previous 24 hours.

“While as predicted the number of cases is going up, we are seeing a greater proportion of those cases in isolation, which is exactly what we want to see,” the Premier said.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she was “forever an optimist” about being able to advise the lockdown could end on Friday, but she would need to see sustained high levels of testing as well as a reduction in the number of people who had been in the community before testing positive.

Dr Chant said the focus of the outbreak was shifting from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to western and south-west Sydney.

“What the community can do is come out and get tested, and not try to play with the rules,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said the next few days would be critical, urging people to respect the stay-at-home orders as Sydney sees out a second sunny weekend in lockdown.

“I’m concerned the good weather, and all of us being cooped up, people will let their guard down,” she said. “Yes, it is great weather, we live in the best place on earth, but please be sensible.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian watches CHO Kerry Chant give a COVID-19 update on Saturday.Credit:Brook Mitchell

In light of recent community transmission in Auburn, NSW Health advised anyone who was at Auburn Town Centre on or after 27 June to get a COVID-19 test. People who do not have symptoms do not need to isolate.

Recent sewage surveillance revealed fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the Penrith and Hornsby Heights catchments. As NSW Health was not aware of any COVID-19 cases in these areas, the ministry has asked for residents to be particularly alert to symptoms.

Deputy Commissioner Gary Warboys said there were 78 fines issued for breaches of the Public Health Order on Friday.

A Bowral man charged with allegedly assaulting police when they attempted to enforce mask requirements at his cafe earlier this week was charged with additional offences on Friday.

The 63-year-old owner of The Organic Store was charged with not complying with a no spitting/coughing direction and served with a $200 PIN for not wearing a fitted face covering. He will appear at Moss Value Local Court on August 3.

The 62-year-old manager and a 43-year-old woman were also given additional charges and will face court on August 17.

Footage of the incident was posted to the cafe’s Instagram account, which also included multiple posts discouraging mask-wearing and vaccines.

According to the post, the owners argued with officers for more than an hour and, when a customer began filming the exchange, police moved to physically eject her from the store.

The new cases come after the state recorded 31 local cases on Friday – at the time NSW’s highest daily case count in over a year, including during the Crossroads, Avalon and Berala clusters.

Late on Friday night, NSW Health issued a number of new venue exposure locations across Sydney’s eastern suburbs, northern beaches, inner west and western suburbs.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

• Manly, Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific – Bistro area, Saturday 26 June from 8.00am to 9.00am
• Marrickville, Exquisite Brows and Spa, Shop 20-B, Ground Level 20B/34 Victoria Road, Saturday 26 June from 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Burwood, Sushi Hub, Kiosk FK1, Westfield Burwood 100 Burwood Road, Saturday 26 June from 4.45pm to 5.20pm
• Matraville, Woolworths, 497-501 Bunnerong Road, Sunday 27 June from 2.00pm to 3.00pm
• Rockdale, Volkswagen Rockdale, 589 Princes Highway, Monday 28 June from 2.30pm to 4.00pm
• Strathfield, Strathfield Plaza Medical Practice, 11-23 The Boulevarde, Monday 28 June from 1.30 to 2.10pm
• Roselands, The Coffee Emporium, Shop 242, Centro Roselands Shopping Centre, Roselands Drive, Monday 28 June from 7.40am to 8.10am, Tuesday 29 June from 7.40am to 8.10am, Wednesday 30 June from 7:40am to 8.10am
• Lakemba, Fresh Quality Fruit and Vegetables, 2/40 Haldon Street, Wednesday 30 June from 11.20am to 11.40am
• Eastlakes, Woolworths, Eastlakes Shopping Centre, 19 Evans Avenue, Wednesday 30 June from 1.00pm to 2.00pm
• Eastlakes, Australia Post Office, Shop 9/20, Eastlakes Shopping Centre, 19 Evans Avenue, Wednesday 30 June from 1.00pm to 2.00pm

On Saturday morning, stay-at-home requirements for people who had recently been in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and some Queensland local government areas were lifted in line with the end of local lockdowns in these locations.

Victoria reported no new local cases on Saturday.

Brisbane and Moreton Bay’s lockdowns will be lifted at 6pm on Saturday after five new local cases were recorded in Queensland.

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‘Green shoots’ of lockdown’s end as NSW records 35 local cases - Sydney Morning Herald
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