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Two hundred thousand Northern Beaches residents prepare for lockdown amid panic buying
Sydney’s Northern Beaches have entered lockdown as the coronavirus cluster in the area grows to 41 cases.
From 5pm on Saturday until midnight on Wednesday, the local government area will revert to lockdown orders issued across the state in March.
People will only be permitted to leave their homes for five basic reasons: to seek medical care, exercise, grocery shop, work or for compassionate care reasons.
An additional 23 cases were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, including 10 already announced.
People line up to shop at a Woolworths supermarket in Avalon (pictured) on Saturday before the Northern Beaches goes into a lockdown at 5pm until midnight Wednesday
Two women (pictured) leave a Coles supermarket in Avalon before being required to follow stay-at-home guidelines
The toilet paper section of the Woolworths at Avalon on Sydney Northern Beaches (pictured) was cleared of stock by Saturday afternoon
Shoppers at Avalon Beach Woolworths (pictured) rush to buy groceries amid a possible further lockdown over the Christmas holiday
All bar two of the new cases have already been linked directly to the Avalon cluster.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the restrictions are essential if Sydney has any hope of a semi-normal Christmas.
‘We’re hoping that will give us sufficient time to get on top of the virus, so that we can then ease up for Christmas and the New Year,’ she said.
‘That is to give all of us a chance to have a better Christmas than what would otherwise occur,’ Berejiklian said.
‘Essentially we’ll be going back to the restrictions that were in place back in March, just for the Northern Beaches.’
Ms Berejiklian also urged Northern Beaches residents not to rush out to stock up on items.
‘It’s okay to go out and do essential shopping so don’t panic buy, please.’
Coles Mona Vale (pictured) was stocked up with bulk toilet paper on Saturday ahead of an expected rush
Shoppers leave Woolworths at Avalon with their groceries before going into four days of lockdown similar to rules in March when the outbreak began
Covid safety officers (pictured) at Coles Mona Vale wear masks and gloves on Saturday
A pop-up Covid testing clinic in Avalon was swamped with crowds on Saturday despite the rain (pictured)
Lines for the testing facility (pictured) stretched down the length of the street, with almost everyone wearing masks
However, as of Saturday residents have flocked to supermarkets to stock up ahead of a possible lockdown Christmas season.
One woman posted to Twitter a picture of an empty toilet paper aisle at her local Northern Beaches supermarket saying it had been cleared out on Thursday night.
She also said the queue to buy items and leave the store was stretching from the checkouts to the freezer aisle at the back.
On Saturday, crowds of shoppers were also pictured loading up on supplies at Coles and Woolworths stores – many wearing masks.
One woman posted that her local supermarket had been cleared of toilet paper as early as Thursday night (pictured)
She also posted a picture showing the line to the checkouts stretched to the freezers at the back of the store (pictured)
Greater Sydney residents are also asked to abandon all non-essential activity.
The premier hinted citywide restrictions could yet be imposed.
The new cases come as NSW Health asks hundreds of gym goers on Sydney’s northern beaches to get tested and isolate immediately.
Authorities issued a public health alert on Saturday morning, calling several hundred people who attended an Avalon gym to take urgent action.
A known case attended Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade on December 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 while infectious.
Investigations are underway and authorities are in the process of tracking down close contacts but are asking anyone who attended the gym on those days to get tested immediately and isolate until further advice.
The gym adds to a lengthy list of venues visited by confirmed cases published by authorities on Friday afternoon.
A known Covid case attended Anytime Fitness (pictured) on Avalon Parade on December 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 while infectious
One man was seen stocking up on toilet paper at Coles Mona Vale (pictured) on Saturday
Residents wearing masks buy Christmas supplies on Saturday afternoon at Woolworths Avalon Beach
Santa Claus Joe Harrison and Sara Biancardi at Pittwater Place, in Mona Vale, two hours before lockdown sends them home for the week
Other states acted on Thursday and Friday to prevent the cluster jumping borders, with more barriers for NSW residents erected by Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
Anyone who enters WA from NSW will be forced into 14 days of self-isolation and people who have been in the northern beaches will not be able to enter Victoria or Queensland without quarantining.
Genomic sequencing has connected the cluster to a US strain of the virus, which may have entered NSW in a returned traveller in early December.
That traveller has never left the hotel quarantine system, meaning the connection between that case and the northern beaches remains unclear.
Two women are seen leaving the Woolworths store in Avalon on Saturday afternoon
Source: Daily Mail Australia | World News
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