Sydney faces 18 new cases while Victoria again reports no new locally acquired cases

Security guards are seen at the Meriton Suites in Waterloo are seen in Sydney, on Tuesday, 6 July. Health authorities have issued a stern warning after three new locally acquired COVID-19 cases were linked to a “gathering” in the Sydney apartment building. Photo: Mick Tsikas: AAP

6 July 2021 10:00am

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian says NSW has recorded 18 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday, with 11 of those in isolation during the infectious period.

Victoria noted its 6th day with no cases, with the total number of active cases in the state at 25. Over the past 24 hours the Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS) reported 15,451 vaccine doses were administered, bringing the total to 1,189,708 vaccinations in the state.

In NSW yesterday 11,831 people received their first of the COVID-19 vaccine and 1,527 received their second dose. This brings the total number of people vaccinated in the state to 921,659.

Another staff member of SummitCare aged care home in Sydney was one of the people who tested positive yesterday said Nine News. The staff member was the third in a week to have tested positive. Five residents had tested positive but displayed no symptoms.

Queensland reported four new local cases of COVID but these were fortunately linked to the Alpha variant of the virus.

Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said that contact tracers had found a missing link between three cases – all three had gone to the Zeus Street Greek Kitchen at Westfield Chermside at the same time, said the ABC.

South Australia has eased travel restrictions with Victoria. People returning from Victoria would no longer need to be tested for COVID-19 when they arrive in the state. A review of border restrictions is to be held on Thursday. In South Australia home gatherings of up to 200 people would be allowed on the condition that a COVID-safe plan was in place.

There were no new cases reported in Perth and Peel in West Australia although the ABC reported that tight restrictions remained in place for the next three days over numbers at venues and the wearing of masks. Premier Mark McGowan said masks were mandatory indoors but not outside. He however called on people to take masks with them whenever they left home. There was a limit of 30 people in private homes and private gatherings indoors and 150 people for outdoor private gatherings. He said high capacity would be allowed in venues.

Meanwhile NSW Health Senior Adviser Jan Fizzell said in an online briefing to the state’s CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) community leaders acknowledged that there was a lot of pressure, fear and stigma attached to disclosing information to COVID-19 contact tracers.

She said the information gathered was not shared with immigration authorities, employers or anyone else.

“We are at a critical time to get on top of the Delta strain which was very transmissable compared with earlier strains,” she said. She said that while supplies of the vaccine were limited, she asked for people to keep looking to set up appointments for vaccinations.

She said there were differences in rules for the numbers of people gathering at places of worship compared to social venues because people used these spaces differently.

“We talked to people and listened. We understand that people need to be at a place of worship. There are different rules for schools, courts prisons, social venues and places of worship,” she said adding that there were different levels of risk attached to each use of venue.

“We are still learning to communicate and be open and transparent. Even then we have been getting calls that we have scared people by being open,” Ms Fizzell said.