First zero-COVID day since June
Image: People wearing face masks on Sydney's streets. Photo: Allison Hore
By ALLISON HORE
Halloween wasn’t the only spooky occurrence over the weekend. In a scary departure from the usual state of affairs, Saturday saw zero new local acquired COVID-19 cases recorded across the whole country.
In the 24 hours between 8pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday night, there were no new locally acquired cases detected anywhere in Australia for the first time in five months. For Victoria, which only a couple of months ago was being overwhelmed with mystery cases, it marked the second day of zero cases in a row.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said he was advised by the National Incident Centre it was the first time since June 9 locally acquired cases hadn’t been detected in the country. He took to Twitter to express gratitude to health care workers.
“Thank you to all of our amazing health & public health workers & above all else the Australian people,” Mr. Hunt said.
Despite no local cases being detected, four Australians returning to the country who are in hotel quarantine in Sydney were diagnosed with COVID-19 over the 24 hour period.
Some areas of south west Sydney also remain on high alert for COVID-19 cases and testing. After the 8pm cutoff on Saturday night, a new case of COVID-19 linked to the Hoxton Park cluster was detected. Health authorities say the new case was a child who had visited Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park on October the 25th at the same time as another child who tested positive.
Anyone who visited the Trampoline Park on that day between 11:00am and 2:00pm is considered a close contact and must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days immediately.
NSW Health is also calling for staff and patrons at a number of venues in Liverpool to come forward for testing.
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