NSW has recorded 30 new local coronavirus cases all linked to the Bondi cluster. Of the new local cases, 11 were already in isolation.

At this stage, Dr Kerry Chant explained that a two-week lockdown for Greater Sydney is based on the best advice in order for all new cases to be linked and enter isolation before any restrictions are lifted.

“If we all take this very seriously, we maintain those testing numbers, then two weeks may be sufficient to have that comfort but what I would be likely to do in the final week, basically, for a significant period of time, having all of our cases totally in isolation and the close contacts already in isolation,” she said.

Meanwhile, the press questioned NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard over the public health order relating to whether the hire car driver who is believed to be patient zero in this outbreak was wearing a mask.

“All the way through this pandemic, this one-in-100-year pandemic, they have been an evolution of circumstances but the drivers and workers who are picking up people from the airport have very clear guidelines expressed by the police to them through management,” Mr Hazzard said adding that “it is disappointing that apparently a small number did not comply.”

Non-compliance with rules is another reason NSW health authorities are taking extra precautions with contact tracing trying to rule out as many community transmissions as possible before easing rules again while urging people to consistently monitor the NSW Health website for the latest information on venues and to respond accordingly.

At the same time, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is being criticised for delays on imposing a lockdown earlier for politically motivated reasons. To this she responded:

“I do not regret a single decision we have taken because it has been based on health advice and also when you are making a major decision to lockdown millions and millions of people, you have to make sure it is based on health advice and not because you want to have zero cases every day. We are balancing the health advice with making sure our citizens were given that information.”

“I have never cared about what people think about me but I care about keeping people safe and not putting burdens on them unless we absolutely have to,” she stressed explaining that “yesterday we had no other alternative, that is a decision we take to keep our community safe but also during the course of the next few days and weeks, make sure we provide as much information as possible and as much certainty as possible.”

When asked about about opening vaccine eligibility for the 30-39 age group who want to get vaccinated Ms Berejiklian clarified that the NSW government can only deliver the number of vaccines that they are given but reassured they are continuously asking for more supply.

While NSW numbers rise, Victoria has recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 but is closely monitoring the other states’ clusters.

Victoria has recorded three new infections in hotel quarantine out of more than 20,000 test results; one of those cases being rather controversial and not counted in local cases. In total, Victoria has 44 active cases including those in hotel quarantine.

A flight attendant that tested positive to COVID-19 flew into Melbourne on Virgin Flight VA334 from Brisbane on Friday.

The case spent a night in Melbourne at the Holiday Inn Express Southbank, leaving on Saturday morning for Sydney.

Contact tracers are working on piecing together any infections relevant with an Oakleigh man in his 60s who tested positive for the Delta strain on Thursday after returning from Sydney a week ago. The man who works at Sandringham Dry Cleaners worked before getting a positive result. One of his colleagues tested positive as well and both remain in hotel quarantine.

Finally, Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield will be placed under a 48-hour lockdown as of 1-m today to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after recording four infections. Residents will only be allowed to leave their home to receive medical care or a COVID-19 vaccination as well as to buy essential goods and services, for exercise or to provide care to a family member. Everyone should also wear a mask.

Queensland has also recorded two cases but there are no further updates at this stage.