Residents of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs Are Asked to Avoid Social Gatherings for the Next Few Days

For the first time since early May, new locally acquired COVID-19 cases have been identified in Sydney, after a man in his 60s who works as a driver for international flight crew tested positive. Over the past 24 hours, NSW Health has been issuing alerts regarding exposure sites, as always happens in this situation — and now Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked that residents of the city's eastern suburbs avoid social gatherings for the time being.

The current cases, which have increased to four as at today, Thursday, June 17, largely involve people who live in the eastern suburbs area — with venues in Bondi Junction and Vaucluse featuring heavily on the exposure sites list. So, the Premier has advised that "if you're in the eastern suburbs, unless you absolutely have to attend a large gathering, unless you absolutely have to engage in activities of a social nature in the next few days, we ask everybody to refrain from that." Folks from that part of town are also requested "to be extra careful, to make sure you hand sanitise and socially distance — and if you're catching public transport, we recommend people wear a mask."

While no official orders have been made for either for the eastern suburbs or for the rest of Sydney, Premier Berejiklian urged everyone in general to "be extra careful" over the same period. "At this stage, we're all on high alert. We're asking people to modify their activity, to consider where they've been, what their movements have been and what their movements may be until we go through the next few days as the situation is evolving," she said. "Assume that everybody you're in contact with has the virus and assume you have the virus yourself — and that's the best advice we can give you as the next few days unfold," the Premier continued.

Reintroducing restrictions wasn't floated in today's press conference but, over the coming days, all Sydneysiders are are asked to frequently check NSW Health's long list of locations and venues that positive coronavirus cases have visited — and, if you've been to anywhere listed on the specific dates and times, to get tested immediately and self-isolate as advised.

In terms of symptoms, Sydneysiders should be looking out for coughs, fever, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of smell or taste — and getting tested at a clinic if you have any.

For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.