The number of mystery cases of coronavirus in Sydney will dictate if the NSW Premier will enforce a lockdown as Sydney wakes to the harshest restrictions since the Northern Beaches outbreak over Christmas.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian stopped short of enforcing a full lockdown in Sydney when the Bondi cluster grew to 31 yesterday, but said she "will not hesitate to go further and harder if we have to".
Four cases reported yesterday are still under investigation and Professor Jane Halton, Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness, told Today further restrictions could be brought in if that number rises.
EXPLAINER: What the tough new Sydney restrictions mean
"It will be the number of cases of unknown origin," Professor Halton said.
"Most of the people who are being diagnosed in the last day or so actually were already in isolation or were known in terms of where they had contracted this illness.
"If they have an increase in the number of cases of unknown origin, and the premier has already signalled this, she will do whatever is necessary.
"She's made a judgment that she doesn't want to go instantly to lockdown, but she's clearly got that on the list of options and there is no doubt in my mind, if this keeps going with unknown origin cases, she will probably have to use that option."
NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard told Today he is currently in isolation after he woke up this morning to a message from NSW Health advising him he may be a close contact of a possible COVID-19 case.
Mr Hazzard said the NSW COVID-19 update will still go ahead at 11am.
"I certainly expect the Premier will be doing it if I am not able to do it at that stage," Mr Hazzard said.
"We can expect more numbers but I don't think they will be dramatic but we will see how it plays out today.
"I think the community is doing what we asked them to do."
Rules that have only been seen in Melbourne have been now introduced in Sydney in a bid to thwart the spread of the Delta variant in the city.
Masks must be work in offices and other indoor workplaces for the first time in the city.
People who live or work in the council areas of City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside and Woollahra are forbidden to leave Sydney for the next seven days unless it's essential.
READ MORE: State-by-state breakdown of travel restrictions
They can, however, leave to visit a relative in care or to go to work.
In Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Shellharbour, no more than five visitors, including children, will be allowed in a home.
A total of 16 new cases were reported yesterday, with four remaining a mystery.
The new restrictions were sparked after the outbreak spread from the city's east to west, with a bus driver among new cases in that area.
"We are not putting any objections on you leaving the home for any purpose, but if you happen to live or work in those seven LGAs, we don't want you moving outside of Sydney," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
Out of 30 people at a birthday party in Hoxton Park in the city's west, ten have tested positive, including a child aged two who then went to day care in nearby Narellen.
However, the party-goers who were vaccinated didn't catch it.
Green dots are back on public transport, to show people where they can sit.
Events such as sport are allowed to be half full.
New capacity rules will affect hospitality.
READ MORE: Can you get a COVID-19 vaccination yet? State-by-state guide
The restrictions have ended school holiday plans for the city, with borders tightened, including by Queensland, which has banned the whole of Greater Sydney from 1am.
Western Australia and South Australia have locked out the whole state, with some people finding out on the flight they would not be holidaying but doing 14 days quarantine, though not at a hotel.
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