Australia’s most populous state recorded no new COVID-19 infections for a third straight day on Sunday but extended raised social distancing and mask-wearing rules by a week as the authorities hunted for the source of a small outbreak.
After a Sydney couple tested positive to the coronavirus last week, ending a long run without community transmission, the authorities reinstated some social distancing measures until May 10, and a campaign to get more people tested, as they scrambled to determine the source of infection.
On Sunday, the authorities reported a third straight day without a new case, easing concerns about a wider outbreak in the city, but cited the mystery cause of infection as a reason for extending the measures.
“As the ‘missing link’ case hasn’t been identified we’re keen to prevent a super-spreading event,” said New South Wales state premier Gladys Berejiklian in a tweet.
“All safeguards/restrictions will be in place for an extra week, except for shoppers in retail who will no longer be required to wear a mask.”
