NSW records 35 new Covid cases in state's biggest daily spike since 2020 - but a 'relieved' Gladys offers hope lockdown won't be extended as only nine of the new infections weren't already in isolation
- New South Wales has recorded 35 new coronavirus cases on Saturday morning
- Premier Gladys Berejiklian says more than 56,000 people were tested Friday
- She says the news is positive despite number being highest since 2020 outbreak
New South Wales has recorded 35 new Covid cases on Saturday as the Bondi cluster grows to 261.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the cases in a press conference on Saturday morning after 56,331 people were tested.
The 35 new cases are the highest number of infections recorded in a single day since the initial outbreak in 2020 but the premier and her Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the 'green shoots are there'.
'We are relieved, the cases are not as bad as they could have been,' Ms Berejiklian said.
Greater Sydney remains in lockdown until Friday but there are still fears it will be extended as sewage testing shows the virus is in south-west and western Sydney despite no known cases being recorded there.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirms the state has recorded 35 new cases on Saturday as the Bondi cluster grows to 261
Greater Sydney remains in lockdown until Friday, with fears it is set to be extended as cases continue to trickle in
'Pleasingly, nine of those were infectious during their time in the community,' the Premier explained on Saturday morning.
'While as predicted the number of cases is going up, we are seeing a greater proportion of those cases in isolation, which is exactly what we want to see.'
Ms Berejiklian said New South Wales residents are doing 'really well' and said it was a positive sign that cases hadn't surged.
Share this article
'We have not seen a huge surge in cases and we certainly feel through our contact tracing that we are not at this stage missing any chains of community transmission,' she said.
She urged Sydneysiders not to get complacent on Saturday with 19 degree temperatures and clear skies warming the Harbour City.
'I know that people want to take advantage of the weather,' the premier said.
'Please exercise sensibly, please maintain your exercise at doors and avoid indoor areas where we know the virus has a greater chance of transmitting.'
When asked about the possibility of extending the lockdown past next Friday, the Premier said it was too early to say.
'I anticipate that obviously some time next week we'll be in a position to tell the community where things are at,' she said.
'It's a bit too soon at the moment.'
She urged Sydneysiders not to get complacent Saturday with 19 degree temperatures and clear skies warming the Harbour City
Under NSW restrictions, people are allowed to exercise in groups of up to ten - and there is no suggestion these fitness fanatics were doing anything wrong
Police officers are seen speaking with people sitting on benches on Bondi Beach's promenade on Friday afternoon
Dr Kerry Chant said 29 of the new cases were linked to previous cases, with 14 being household contacts.
'Of the 35 new locally acquired cases, 23 were in isolation throughout their infectious period,' Dr Chant said.
'A further three cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period, and nine cases were infectious in the community.'
NSW Health have also put 97,000 western Sydney residents on high-alert after coronavirus fragments were detected in sewer readings.
The system serves Penrith, Tunks Park, Maroubra, Penrith, Port Kembla and Rouse Hill.
Other areas include Emu Plains, Glenbrook, Glenmore Park Warrimoo, Blaxland and as far west as the Blue Mountains National Park.
NSW Health are urging anyone from the areas to monitor their symptoms closely and immediately get tested if their condition worsens.
The number of venues exposed to Sydney's alarming Covid-19 outbreak grew on Friday night with major supermarkets, chain stores and shopping centres added to the list.
Customers who visited a Woolworths at Eastgate Shopping Centre in the city's east, a Bunnings at Caringbah in the far south and Strathfield Plaza in the inner west have been told to get tested and self-isolate immediately as 34 new venues were added bringing the total number of exposure sites in Greater Sydney to 364.
The next few days in New South Wales are 'critical' according to officials, as the state continues to record new Covid-19 cases who have been infectious in the community.
