Zero local coronavirus cases in NSW as Premier Gladys Berejiklian flags easing restrictions in Greater Sydney

The NSW Premier says the Government will consider easing restrictions if testing rates increase.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flagged easing restrictions in Greater Sydney next week after the state recorded a second day in a row with no locally acquired coronavirus cases.

Ms Berejiklian refused to say if mandatory masks would be one of the restrictions to be eased after two men allegedly assaulted police last night, after being asked to wear a mask while in a shopping centre.

The Premier said more than 16,000 people came forward for testing yesterday but that she wanted to see that number increase before restrictions could be eased.

“The Government is very much in the space of considering health advice easing restrictions and I want to make that clear,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“But we won’t have the confidence to do that unless we have higher rates of testing, because that will assure us that we have captured all previously undetected cases of the virus, which may still be infectious in the community.”

Ms Berejiklian declined to specify what could change next week for Greater Sydney, saying they were looking at an overarching easing of restrictions.

Among the current restrictions is a limit of five visitors in homes and mandatory masks in venues including supermarkets and on public transport.

“We would much rather have a holistic change in restrictions rather than doing it in little pieces,” she said.

wo men, aged 51 and 39, were charged with several offences, after allegedly assaulting police officers at a shopping centre in Wetherill Park.

“It is so disappointing when disrespect is shown or worse to police officers or anyone else working in the system to keep all of us safe,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Ms Berejiklian said she recognised it was difficult and uncomfortable, but that safety measures including masks were keeping NSW’s cases low.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he hoped law enforcement would come down hard on the men for their refusal to comply with the health order.

“If you don’t have a medical reason to not wear a mask, not wearing a mask is arrogant, selfish, and actually dopey,” Mr Hazzard.

“And so I hope the full force of the law is thrown at those people.”