By Mike CrooksMonday 10 May 2021NewsReading Time: 3 minutes
Update from the Hope Newsroom, May 10, 2021:
Most of Greater Sydney’s coronavirus restrictions will remain in place for a week while health officials work to identify the missing link to the COVID-19 case in the Eastern suburbs.
People can go shopping without wearing masks, but face coverings are still mandatory on public transport.
Household gatherings remain capped at 20 people.
A new case of community transmission of COVID-19 has forced tighter restrictions across Sydney this weekend.
The NSW Government revealed this morning that the new case was the wife of a Sydney man in his 50s who had contracted COVID-19.
The Government revealed the Sydney man’s case on Wednesday and has updated a growing list of venues.
New rules
From midday today, visitors to households in Greater Sydney – including Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains – are limited to 20 guests, including children.
Masks are compulsory on public transport and in all public indoor venues such as shops, theatres, hospitals, and aged care facilities. (Masks are not required in a hospitality venue when eating or drinking.)
At aged care facilities, visitors are limited to two people.
In indoor venues such as pubs, drinking while standing is not permitted.
While people can still attend church services this weekend, congregational singing is not allowed.
And dancing is not permitted at at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs. However, there are allowances for dancing at weddings but attendees are strongly advised to no exceed 20 people on the dancefloor at the same time.
The restrictions aim to reduce the risk of a super-spreading event. They will last until the end of Sunday and be enforceable from 5pm today.
Get tested
“These measures are proportionate to the risk and will help reduce further cases of community transmission,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“To allow our health authorities to do their excellent work it is critical the community continues to keep their physical distance, get tested and importantly continues to use the Service NSW app to check into venues.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard urged those with symptoms to be tested, even if they have received one or two vaccination doses.
There are more than 300 testing locations across NSW, including new pop-up sites in the Eastern Suburbs.
“Anyone experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms, even if they are mild, must isolate immediately, get tested and continue to isolate until a negative result is received,” Mr Hazzard said.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant asked Greater Sydney public to adhere to the restrictions.
“We are asking the community to be on alert, continue to practice COVID-safe behaviours and stay home and get tested if they’re unwell,” Ms Chant said.
Mystery infection
It is still unknown how the Eastern Suburbs man contracted the disease. He had not recently returned from overseas and had no connection to a hospital or hospital staff.
Analysis of the virus revealed that the likely source of his infection was a person who arrived from the US. He was staying in special quarantine accommodation.
But it remains unknown how the virus spread to the Sydney man.