School closed in regional NSW as state records four new local coronavirus infections
Four new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in New South Wales as a school and childcare centre in the Southern Highlands close.
New South Wales has recorded four new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 in the state’s Southern Highlands region, with a local school and childcare centre closed for cleaning.
Of the nine cases in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, one was locally-acquired and under investigation and three were known contacts of that case.
Five cases were uncovered in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
The locally-acquired cases were uncovered in Moss Vale, with Moss Vale Public School and Southern Highlands Early Childhood Centre shut on Friday for cleaning and contact tracing. One case attended the school and another the childcare centre.
NSW Health said on Friday that Moss Vale residents needed to be on high alert for COVID-19 symptoms and seek testing even with mild symptoms.
Students and staff at Moss Vale Public School were told to self-isolate.
Meanwhile, NSW residents can now freely travel to the Apple Isle, after Tasmania opened its border to Australia’s most populous state for the first time in more than seven months.
The change removes the need for people travelling south from New South Wales to quarantine.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday ramped up the pressure on her counterparts in Western Australia and Queensland to follow suit in order to avoid the “devastating impact” of job losses.
This followed her announcement NSW will open to Victorian residents from 23 November.
Victoria has recorded seven consecutive days of no COVID-19 cases.
NSW Health this week said that while the state had low numbers of locally-transmitted COVID-19 cases, the upcoming holiday period would present the challenge of increased gatherings.
On Thursday, it also called on people from southwest Sydney to get tested if they develop COVID-like symptoms after traces of the virus were found in sewage in the area.
One COVID-19 patient in the state is in intensive care.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
SBS
