NSW records 16 new COVID-19 cases as more restrictions announced

NSW governmnet introduced additional  measures after recording 16 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, half of which were linked to a birthday party in Sydney's south-west.

NSW Health department announced 10 new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, seven of which were announced yesterday. Chief health officer Kerry Chant said 10 of the new infections were linked to the Bondi cluster. However  two of the cases were unlinked.

"The cause of our concern is that we have had people infectious is in the community unknowingly,” she said.

There were also 13 new locally acquired cases confirmed after the official reporting period, meaning they will be included in tomorrow’s numbers. There are now 37 cases linked to the Bondi cluster.

Dr Chant said eight of the cases recorded were linked to a birthday party in West Hoxton, which was attended by a previously reported linked to the Bondi cluster.

"There were about 30 people there, in a house and the person was infectious at the time — who didn't have symptoms," Dr Chant said.

"It was a mixed-age group. Can I just applaud the cooperation that the group has undertaken. All of them promptly when I got tested, all of them promptly isolated."

All attendees at the party have been tested and are in isolation.

A total of 10 of those people have since tested positive, including a two-year-old who attended Little Zak's Academy childcare in Narellan Vale.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also announced a raft of new restrictions, with authorities expressing their concern over the highly-infectious nature of the Delta strain of Covid-19.

From 4pm today the following restrictions will apply for Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Shellharbour. NSW Health said the restrictions would be in place for one week.

• Visitors to households will be limited to 5 guests — including children
• Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces, and at organised outdoor events
• Drinking while standing at indoor venues will not be allowed
• Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed
• Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs however, dancing is allowed at weddings for the bridal party only (no more than 20 people)
• Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn)
• The one person per four square metre rule will be re-introduced for all indoor and outdoor settings, including weddings and funerals
• Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent seated capacity
• Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced
• If you live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside, and Woollahra local government areas, you cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.

While NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there was an “increased level of concern” due to the spike in cases, she added was expected there would be a high number of household contacts contracting the virus due to the highly-contagious nature of the Delta strain.

She said officials were confident in the current restrictions, though that could change if more unlinked cases were discovered.

“If we suddenly have a number of unlinked cases and if we suddenly have them outside the geographic region they are concentrated in that we will obviously adjust the health advice and we will respond to that ,” she said.