New South Wales‘ top doctor was interrupted during a crucial update on Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak by a call from her mother’s nursing home.
Dr Kerry Chant announced 15 new cases on Monday, all linked to the Northern Beaches cluster that now stands at 83.
But the press conference came to a brief standstill after her ringtone started chiming in the background.
‘Sorry,’ the state’s chief health officer said, excusing herself as she collected her phone before returning to the podium.
New South Wales Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant addressed the media on Monday (pictured) to provide an update on Sydney’s coronavirus outbreak
‘It’s just my mother’s age care facility ringing. I’ll call them back, I’m not a negligent daughter.’
She appeared unsettled by the disturbance, but quickly brushed it off to resume answering questions.
Dr Chant has been one of key figures leading the state’s fight against coronavirus since it hit Australia’s shores in January.
She, among with other health bosses across the country, has since conducted press conferences nearly everyday to keep Australians informed as the crisis has evolved.
New South Wales health authorities are battling to contain a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with the majority centred around the beachside suburb Avalon.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday ordered the Northern Beaches into lockdown and urged the rest of Sydney to avoid non-essential travel until midnight on Wednesday.
A record 38,000 people across the state got tests on Sunday with results expected to come in between 24 and 72 hours later, meaning case numbers could rise on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The press conference was briefly interrupted after Dr Chant received a phone call from her mother’s nursing home (pictured)
Dr Chant said some patients caught the virus outside the Northern Beaches but all cases have been linked back to two events at the Avalon RSL and the Avalon Bowlo last week.
‘We’ve had seeding events where people have gone from being exposed in the Northern Beaches and gone back to other parts of the CBD, south-eastern Sydney, the broader northern Sydney area, Penrith,’ she said.
‘We have seen transmission event in a workplace in the CBD – again linked by somebody who had unknowingly brought that into that workplace.’
The government will decide on Wednesday whether to extend restrictions or release Northern Beaches residents from lockdown for Christmas.
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Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have closed the borders to Greater Sydney and have made 14-day isolation compulsory for travellers.
Western Australia has shut its borders to the whole of NSW indefinitely and only those with special exemptions will be allowed into the state.
The government has imposed a number of restrictions on the Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, which will remain in place until 11.59pm on Wednesday.
Restrictions are in place across Sydney as health authorities battle to contain the outbreak before Christmas. Pictured: People are seen lining up at a COVID-19 testing centre at the East Sydney Community and Arts Centre in Darlinghurst on Sunday
No more than 10 people are allowed at household gatherings and patrons will need to maintain a four-square metre distancing at venues.
Up to 300 people will be permitted at places of worship and hospitality venues, while singing and chanting at indoor venues is banned, and dance floors will only be allowed at weddings.
People are also being urged to wear masks until Wednesday and to avoid visiting any vulnerable friends, relatives or aged-care facilities until Christmas Eve.
Northern beaches residents remain under stay-at-home orders last imposed back in March at the height of the Covid-19 crisis.
People are permitted to leave their homes for five basic reasons: to seek medical care, exercise, grocery shop, work or for compassionate care reasons.
