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It has now been one month since a COVID-19 infection was reported in a limousine driver from the eastern suburbs, starting a virus outbreak that has forced Australia’s two largest cities to spend this weekend in lockdown as case numbers escalate.
More than 1000 cases have now been recorded across Greater Sydney, as the focus of spread shifted from the east to the south-west. Here are eight graphs that explain how things have progressed over the past four weeks.
Numbers increased from east to west
These two maps show that cases have shifted from Sydney’s eastern suburbs (driven by exposures at retail and hospitality venues) to the south-west (driven by exposures at essential workplaces and through family networks) over the past month. The most rapid increase has been seen in the Fairfield local government area, where 294 cases were recorded over the past week after just 25 were acquired in the previous three.
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Of the 112 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 84 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 16 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, 7 are from Western Sydney LHD and 5 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD.
While there are a large number of cases and exposure venues in south west Sydney, particularly the Fairfield area, we are now seeing cases of COVID-19 and exposure venues throughout many parts of Greater Sydney, particularly in retail settings.
People in Greater Sydney must stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave. You should only be shopping for essential items and only leaving the house for as short a period of time as possible. We encourage people to shop online or use click and collect options. If you do leave home for an essential reason, remember to check in anywhere you attend.
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Of the 79 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 52 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 11 are from Sydney LHD and 10 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD. Transmission in these areas continues to be of great concern.
Eleven further cases have been recorded to 8pm last night linked to a gathering at the Meriton Suites Waterloo on Saturday 26 June. This brings the total number of cases linked to this venue to 46, seven people who attended the gathering and 39 subsequent contacts.
The majority of the 77 new locally acquired cases reported today are linked to known cases and are particularly prominent among family members, friends and other close contacts, such as work colleagues.
Authorities were called to the property on Arthur St, Randwick, after complaints were made by neighbours.
When they arrived, they found eight men aged between 31 and 50 inside the home.
One of the men said he was present because he was delivering a package, however no such package was found.
Another man was found hiding behind a shower curtain in an attempt to evade police.
All eight were fined $1000.
A group of five people at the Entrance on the Central Coast were also fined after hosting a gathering at a private residence. People need to take responsibility. They need to make good decisions. Every single time that you make a poor decision, you put yourself at risk, your family at risk, and also the community, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.
Home gatherings, not shopping, is causing the cases
Pressed on why so many stores were allowed to remain open, the Premier said the most recent examples of COVID-19 infections were because of people “gathering together when they shouldn’t be.
“Please assume every time you leave the house that you have COVID or you are in contact with someone with the virus. The basic message is: Stay home.”
“We know both anecdotally and in our mobility study and certainly what police are reporting that most retail outlets at the moment are completely empty.”
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