New South Wales has recorded just five coronavirus cases overnight from 15,300 tests, all linked to the Avalon cluster, as plans for New Year's Eve parties and celebrations in Sydney were heavily scaled back.
While detailing strict guidelines on no loud talking and no midnight kisses or hugs, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian cancelled thousands of spots along the foreshore which had been allocated for frontline workers for the city's New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Outdoor gatherings in Greater Sydney were also slashed from 100 to 50 people.
Ms Berejiklian confirmed homes in Greater Sydney could only host a maximum of 10 people, including children.
The premier said unless events organised by local councils in Greater Sydney were controlled, ticketed and seated, she recommended they be cancelled.
Apologising for being "so strict", Ms Berejiklian even urged partygoers to avoid speaking loudly at parties and events, based on what she said was best health advice to help stop potential spread of the virus.
"If you're at a pub in the CBD on New Year's Eve, you cannot be standing up and mingling," she said.
"We just can't see scenes of people, especially after having a few drinks, just getting up and mingling and deciding they want to give everybody a kiss and a hug on New Year's Eve."
Ms Berejikilian foreshadowed a strong police presence in Sydney's CBD to stop a potential superspreading event.
"Whilst we're seeing the trends go the way we hope they do, there are still too many concerning aspects of this," Ms Berejiklian said, explaining why her government had tightened up rules for New Year's Eve.
"We still haven't found the real root cause of how the virus actually got to the Avalon RSL."
For those reasons, she said, the current stay-at-home provisions would remain in place for the northern zone of the Northern Beaches until January 9.
On New Year's Eve, people in the northern zone will be able to have up to five people into their home including children, but all visitors must be from the northern zone.
https://twitter.com/ccroucher9/status/1343346302977888259?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwThe southern zone stay-at-home provisions will remain until January 2.
On New Year's Eve, however, residents of the southern zone will be allowed 10 people into their home, but unlike at Christmas, the limit includes children.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard told people in Sydney to know their zones and stay in their zones.
"It is crucial that you do not leave those areas," he said.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said there were nine new cases acquired from overseas, and she expressed concern testing numbers were down.
"I urge everyone, including those in the Northern Beaches in both zones, to come forward for testing with the most minimal of symptoms," Dr Chant said.
"But my plea extends across the state - please come forward, it is critical to us understanding this current cluster."
Dr Chant confirmed man in his 70s died on December 21 from respiratory complications following a COVID-19 infection diagnosed in March.
She said the man's death highlighted how severe lung damage and other complications arising from COVID-19 can be fatal many months later.
Dr Chant said an unusual case in Bondi had been investigated further and was now being treated as a positive case.
There had been some suggestion yesterday it was a false positive.
However, Dr Chant today said the man and his close contacts were now all in isolation.
She said a positive case from the Avalon cluster who had ventured into the CBD was also a risk to others, particularly the Chifley Square area.
NSW yesterday recorded seven new locally acquired cases from almost 24,000 tests.
More to come.
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