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NSW records three new local COVID-19 cases

New South Wales has recorded three new locally transmitted coronavirus cases overnight.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said two of the cases were close contacts in the Berala cluster and one was a close contact of someone from the Northern Beaches.

READ MORE: Northern Beaches lockdown lifted after three weeks

The new Berala cases are a man and a woman, both in their 30s.

Both are close contacts of a previously reported case.

The Northern Beaches case is a young person from the southern zone of the peninsula, which has not been in lockdown since January 2.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said this person is thought to be an older case but all precautions are being taken during this crucial time.

"We do actually believe that case was an older case but we do wait for serology on that," Dr Chant said.

"Clearly we want everyone to go about their business in the Northern Beaches and again, can I extend my appreciation for their cooperation during the lockdown.

READ MORE: New COVID-19 alerts for Burwood stores amid four new cases on Saturday"

"But like every resident of NSW, this is a critical phase in our response and we are asking you to get tested and continue to get tested.

"I am reassured that the testing rates in that northern zone – and also the southern zone have been quite high – but particularly the northern zone, so that does give me some comfort – but clearly we have to be very vigilant over the next coming weeks."

Dr Chant said continuing high rates of testing was critical in order to identify any unrecognised chains of transmission.

Nearly 24,00 people came forward to get tested in the last 24 hours, slightly less than the previous day of 25,646 tests.

There are now 150 cases associated with the Avalon cluster, and 23 with the Berala cluster.

Ms Berejiklian said while the numbers were encouraging, this was no time for complacency.

"The case of community transmission overnight demonstrates that whilst the main threat of those clusters – both the Avalon cluster and then the related Berala cluster – the main threat has to some extent subsided, we're still mopping up and that's why all of us have to be on high alert," she said.

"The risk in Greater Sydney is the same as last week."

Dr Chant reiterated that anyone who has visited at-risk sites on certain dates must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result.

Those locations include:

  • Casula Costco Wholesale at Casula at the Crossroads Home-maker centre on Saturday January 2 from 4.45pm to 6.15pm
  • Myer Bankstown on the ground floor at Bankstown on Central North Terrace on Wednesday 6 January, from 11.30am to 12.40pm
  • Campsie Warehouse Chemist, on Friday January 8 from 12 to 12.30pm
  • Campsie Big W on Sunday, January 3, 1.20pm to 1.40pm
  • Campsie Medical and Dental Centre on Friday January 8 from 10.40am to 11.30am

Ms Berejiklian said it was important for everyone in NSW to remain on high alert to prevent another outbreak.

"It only takes one or two cases to get out of control or an undetected line of transmission to get out of control for all of us to be in a situation where we have to consider making things tighter," she said.

"But pleasingly we are where we're at in NSW at the moment."

Plea for more communication on borders

The premier spoke on border closures and implored other states to ensure clear and open communication before imposing the strict measures.

"I would simply say to other state leaders – firstly, please talk to us in NSW before you close the border because we can explain to you the situation that's going on," Ms Berejiklian said.

"Closing a border can affect literally, tens and hundreds of thousands of people, depending on where it is, and that's a big call. And in NSW, our strategy is to try to minimise unnecessary stress on our citizens whilst obviously keeping the virus at bay.

"It's a difficult balance, but I just ask other state leaders to, please, talk to us before they close their border to NSW and give us a chance to demonstrate our capacity to get on top of the virus without adversely impacting our citizens."

Ms Berejiklian said she had spoken to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and flagged the border between the two states could open as soon as next week.

"Premier Andrews has already said he hopes to do it (open up) some time next week, but just to – again – just to demonstrate that when NSW closed its border with Victoria, I spoke at length to the Victorian Premier, I spoke to the Prime Minister, we had a three-way conversation.

"It was a big decision for us to take and I just ask that other state Premiers extend the same courtesy to NSW."