Updated:
Advice for people who attended two Greek Orthodox churches in Wollongong has been updated. This replaces previous advice that anyone who attended either church should get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health.
New advice has also been issued for attendees of St Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, 39 Atchison Street, Wollongong, with NSW Health saying that anyone who attended on Sunday, 27 December between 9am and 10.15am is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
New advice for the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 18 Stewart St, Wollongong, is that anyone who attended on Sunday, 27 December between 10.30am and 11am is a casual contact who must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a further tightening of restrictions for New Years Eve celebrations after the state recorded 18 new COVID-19 cases from community transmission overnight.
For New Year’s Eve in Greater Sydney (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) the following will apply;
- Household gatherings will be limited to 5 visitors (including children).
- The limit for outdoor gatherings will be reduced from 50 to 30.
Restrictions for the northern zone of the Northern Beaches remain the same but for the southern zone of the Northern Beaches the following will now apply;
- Household gatherings will be limited to 5 visitors from within your zone (including children).
The Premier encouraged people to “stay home” for New Year’s Eve, adding that if people do decide to have guests that they maintain adequate social distancing and good ventilation.
Speaking at the daily press conference, NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant also announced that aged care facilities are to restrict visitor access until January 6.
“As a precaution, until we further understand the community transmission across broader Sydney, we are taking a very precautionary approach to aged care visitors,” Dr Chant said.
“So until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday, 6 January, we’re asking all residential aged care facilities exclude visitors excepting those performing essential caring functions, and obviously end of life.”
