Seven new virus cases have been revealed in NSW as the government moves to mandate masks on public transport and in shopping centres for those in Sydney and surrounding areas.
Those caught without one will be fined $200 from Monday, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Saturday.
The indoor settings captured by the mandate include shopping centres, public transport, cinemas and places of worship, and it applies to people in Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains.
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“If you go to shopping centres, catching public transport, attending an end of entertainment venue like the cinema, you have to wear a mask,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have already strongly wanted people to wear a mask but we do not want to restrict people’s ability to go about their business (and) we want to increase economic activity … mask wearing in these settings will ensure we have the confidence to do that.”
Of the seven new cases, four are from the same household and all but one are linked to current infections.
Five are from western Sydney, where contact tracers are turning their attention to a new outbreak.
More than 32,000 tests were conducted in the latest reporting period, but authorities are hoping for larger numbers over the coming weeks, particularly for western suburbs residents.
NSW recorded seven locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional 12 cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW to 4,758 since the beginning of the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/K2m38p6uwx
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 2, 2021
Ms Berejiklian also announced residents living in the southern half of the northern beaches will now be treated the same as Greater Sydney.
But stay at home provisions remain in the northern part of the northern beaches.
Ms Berejiklian said mandating masks had been a topic discussed for months by health authorities and they will be using it as a tool to ensure businesses can continue to operate and people remain employed.
Other restrictions which have come into force for Greater Sydney and surrounds include reducing the numbers at indoor gym classes to 30 and closing night clubs.
Others include:
- Weddings and funerals limited to one person per 4 sqm up to a maximum of 100 people.
- Outdoor performances and protests reduced to 500 people.
- Controlled, outdoor gatherings (seated, ticketed, enclosed) reduced to 2,000 people.
The news comes just days before the third cricket Test between Australia and India at the SCG, with the call to continue with the event sparking criticism from some corners.
The Premier said health officials will be doing a walk through of the venue’s COVID Safe plan.
“Organisers and police are aware of compliances. We need to make sure they work,” she said.
More to come