NSW premier on Sydney cases, restriction changes

The Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian announced eight new positive COVID-19 cases and "modest changes" to coronavirus restrictions across Greater Sydney on Wednesday. Seven of the cases are linked to Sydney's northern beaches cluster. That takes the total number of cases linked to the cluster to 97.

The eight case is linked to the health worker infected while transporting patients into quarantine reported on Tuesday. Nearly 42,000 COVID-19 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours, compared to the record 44,466 tests announced yesterday. Berejiklian held a meeting on Wednesday morning to determine how people across New South Wales would spend the Christmas period.

"In relation to Greater Sydney, there will be no changes but for one tweak and that is on the 24th, the 25th and the 26th you can have of course 10 people into your home, but you'll be able to have in addition to that children under 12," she said.

Residents in Greater Sydney will be allowed to host unlimited numbers of children aged under 12 in their homes, in addition to the maximum of 10 visitors per household for the next three days. About 250,000 northern beaches residents have been confined to their homes since Saturday evening, only leaving for approved reasons such as shopping, exercise and medical care.