NSW has recorded its 20th consecutive day of no locally acquired COVID-19 cases as next week's easing of restrictions for gatherings inches closer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Zero locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were reported in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, while four cases were uncovered in travellers in hotel quarantine.
The tally came from more than 14,700 tests.
As a result, NSW has reached 20 consecutive days without recording a locally-acquired COVID-19 case.
The state in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday recorded no COVID-19 cases at all for the first time since September 27.
"Restrictions continue to be eased but now is not the time to be complacent," NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty said in a statement on Friday.
"New infections have been identified in the past after a number of days without any cases because of transmission among people with mild or no symptoms."
A swathe of restrictions will be eased from December 1, with 30 visitors allowed in homes and 50 if there's an outdoor space such as a yard.
The capacity at small hospitality venues in NSW will double, while people from Sydney will be allowed back into Queensland for the first time since August.
From December 14, health orders in NSW will also change to enable business to make their own decisions regarding work from home arrangements.
Dr McAnulty encouraged NSW residents to keep COVID-19 testing numbers up, even where respiratory symptoms were minimal.
He said anyone who had recently been to South Australia should follow local health advice.
South Australia on Thursday added Woodville High School in Adelaide's west to its list of venues of concern after that state's COVID-19 outbreak.
Residents in a number of suburbs in southwestern Sydney were also urged this week to get tested after virus fragments were detected in the sewage.
No COVID-19 patients in NSW are currently in intensive care.
Australian Associated Press
