NSW records no local coronavirus cases for ninth consecutive day

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said on Sunday that NSW public servants would begin returning to work in offices in a "COVID safe" way, with flexible working arrangements such as staggered start and finish times in place. Employees are also encouraged to travel on public transport outside of peak times.

The one person per four square-metre rule continues to apply to venues. While it typically does not apply to offices, it is adopted voluntarily by the state government to determine how many public servants should occupy office space at any one time.

"The health and safety of the people of NSW has always been our number one priority; however, we are also focussed on firing up the economy," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We are now encouraging public servants to physically return to work in their offices in a COVID Safe way, which will help stimulate city-based businesses and create more jobs across the state.

"The government will continue to review health advice and aim to ensure we keep people safe and at the same time allow them to return to their normal lives as much as possible."

Mr Perrottet said "our top-class health response and contact tracing has managed to help contain COVID-19 and we now need to begin returning our city safely to a more normal footing".

"This is an important step, and as workers return safely to the city it will help boost confidence and support businesses who have suffered over the past six months," he said.

The government said these arrangements would comply with existing public health orders, including a requirement that employers allow their employees to work from home if "reasonably practicable".

In a statement on Sunday, NSW Health urged people to get tested and isolate immediately "if symptoms like a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough or fever appear", saying this was "particularly important with school holidays and increased movement of people around the state".

On Friday, NSW Health said it was contacting passengers and crew on Jetstar Flight JQ510, which left Melbourne at 11am on 27 September, after they were exposed to a returned traveller from Victoria who is believed to have travelled while infectious with coronavirus. This included 47 passengers and crew members travelling with special permits or quarantine exemptions.

On Sunday, NSW Health told the Herald the majority of passengers on the flight "went straight to mandatory hotel quarantine" and all close contacts had been advised to get tested and isolate for 14 days.

"NSW has contacted all crew and passengers travelling with special permits or quarantine exemptions," NSW Health said.

"Exemptions and special permits are granted for various reasons, including to air crew. No further information can be provided on individual cases for privacy reasons."

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 12 new coronavirus cases and one death on Sunday as an outbreak linked to a butcher's shop in Chadstone Shopping Centre grew to 20 cases, including a regional case in Mitchell Shire.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said authorities were investigating whether the outbreak was a super-spreading event, and that it was a "salient lesson" for workplaces about how infectious the virus can be.