By Renju Jose
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s most populous state New South Wales (NSW) reported zero local cases of coronavirus for the first time in almost three weeks on Monday as Sydney fought multiple outbreaks and authorities asked tens of thousands of people to be tested. word.
NSW’s daily test numbers have dropped to around 20,000 over the past two days from a high of around 70,000 recorded on Christmas Day, 25 December. The vast majority of the tests are in the capital Sydney.
“The numbers are far too low … if we manage to stay ahead of the COVID pandemic, testing is of great importance so that we can have confidence in the data when we make decisions,” said NSW Acting Premier. John Barilaro told reporters.
Authorities have imposed mandatory masks on indoor spaces and on public transport for Sydney’s five million residents as of Monday, or they will be fined A $ 200 ($ 154).
NSW officials have rejected calls for mandatory face masks since the pandemic began, and the change in policy follows the latest outbreak in Sydney, which looks highly contagious, and ahead of a cricket Test match between Australia and India in the city that according to Jan begins. 7.
The Australian Cricket Council further reduced the crowd for the test on Monday to 25%, about 10,000 spectators, from 50%, amid criticism from health officials that the event would become a virus spread.
Australia and India are in the middle of a series of four Tests, played against the backdrop of strict health measures, with both sides to travel to Sydney for the third Test from Thursday.
Two cases related to Sydney’s fresh cluster around a liquor store were recorded after the daily deadline of 2000 local time. That will be added to Tuesday’s score.
Low single-digit cases of a group in the suburbs in the north by the sea, indicate that a strict exclusion since mid-December could effectively eliminate the virus, but according to a report by the KPMG, NSW had the economy A $ 3 in December, 20 billion ($ 2.46 billion). .
NSW and Sydney, Australia’s largest city, have been isolated from the rest of Australia by the closure of state borders or mandatory 14-day quarantine rules for the arrival of interstates from NSW.
Neighboring Victoria, which also fights new affairs in the state capital Melbourne, reported on Monday three local affairs bringing the active affairs in the state to 36.
Australia has largely avoided the large number of cases and deaths due to the new coronavirus compared to other developed countries, but the latest COVID-19 groups in Sydney have fueled fears of a wider outbreak.
Just under 28,500 COVID-19 cases and 909 deaths have been reported since the pandemic began. (Graphics: https://tmsnrt.rs/34pvUyi)
($ 1 = 1.2982 Australian dollars)
(Reported by Renju Jose; edited by Michael Perry)