A superspreading event at a birthday party in Sydney’s west has sparked a sudden surge in COVID-19 cases.
There were 16 new cases of COVID-19 announced on Wednesday, bringing the Bondi cluster to 31 cases.
Eight of the most recent cases are linked to a gathering in West Hoxton.
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Watch the introduction of new restrictions in the video player above
Unbeknownst to the 30 guests at the party, one of the attendees worked at Bondi Westfield and was carrying the virus.
All are now isolating and have been tested.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the infectious attendee was asymptomatic.
“We got to this group very quickly,” she said.
“And that meant that they were basically infectious in the community for one day, probably, given that it takes about 24 hours to incubate.”
She said having 10 people test positive in such a short period of time (on Tuesday to 8pm) was concerning but said nobody was at fault.
The surge in cases, including several that are unlinked, resulted in the reintroduction of restrictions across Greater Sydney from 4pm on Wednesday, lasting for at least a week.
Visitors to households will be limited to five guests, including children.
Masks will be mandatory in all indoor non-residential settings, including workplaces and at organised outdoor events.
Drinking while standing at hospitality venues will not be allowed.
Singing by audiences at indoor shows or by congregants at indoor places of worship will not be allowed.
Dancing will not be allowed at indoor hospitality venues or nightclubs. Dancing is allowed at weddings but no more than 20 people are allowed on the dancefloor.
Dance and gym classes are limited to 20 people and masks must be worn throughout.
The one person per four square metres rule will be reintroduced for all indoor and outdoor settings.
Outdoor seated events will be limited to 50 per cent capacity.
Previous public transport capacity limits, represented by green dots, will be reintroduced.
Those who live in the seven LGAs outlined earlier in the week cannot travel outside metropolitan Sydney for non-essential travel.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the restrictions were a reflection of the virulent Delta strain of the virus.
“This is no time for game playing, it is no time for stupidity. This is a very serious situation that we are now in,” he said.
This Delta virus has shown itself to be very capable of spreading extremely quickly and in circumstances that New South Wales residents have not experienced in the same way before.”