15 new COVID cases recorded linked to Sydney cluster

New South Wales authorities said Monday that the Australian state had recorded 15 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 — half of the previous day's count.

"Pleasingly, overnight, we did see a reduction in the previous day's numbers," said Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of New South Wales.

All 15 new cases were linked to the so-called Avalon cluster, named after a community of about 10,000 people on the northern beaches about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from downtown Sydney.

Investigations are continuing into the source of the cluster, which now numbers 83 cases.

A record 38,578 tests were reported in New South Wales in the 24 hours up to Sunday night - compared with 28,210 in the previous 24-hour period.

This was the highest number of COVID-19 tests ever performed in a single day.

"The government is monitoring the situation almost on an hourly basis. We will consider our position in relation to what Christmas and the next few days look like beyond Wednesday," said Berejiklian.

All residents of Sydney's northern beaches are currently under a stay-at-home order.

Until midnight Wednesday, they are only permitted to leave their homes for five basic reasons: medical care, exercise, grocery shop, work or for compassionate care reasons.