Sad truth about Sydney ‘superspreader’ funeral as NSW records 177 COVID-19 cases
Forty-five of the 50 people who attended an illegal funeral service in western Sydney have tested positive to COVID-19.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the shocking reveal while announcing 177 new cases across the state, the worst day since the outbreak began.
Funeral services are currently restricted to 10 people.
“The reason why we have contained funerals to 10 people is because of how contagious this virus is,” the premier said.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“That funeral held at Pendle Hill... 50 people attended and 45 people now have the virus.”
She also warned Sydneysiders not to visit family or friends, or other households.
“You might think you are doing your grandmother or your aunt a favour by dropping in and giving them food or going into say hello, but that could be a death sentence. Do not do it,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I do not want to dwell on that, but it is a stark example.”
Lockdown measures have been extended for another four weeks in response to the escalating crisis. Of the 177 new cases, 46 were in the community for their entire infectious period.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said “it would not have been realistic for the NSW government to make a decision in the next two weeks given where we are today”.
More than 94,000 people got swabbed in the last reporting period.
Of the new cases, 74 are linked to a known case or cluster – 60 are household contacts and 14 are close contacts.
But the source of 103 cases remains a mystery.
A woman in her 90s has also died at Liverpool Hospital, marking the eleventh death since the start of the outbreak.
She also slammed people for travelling outside their local government areas or more than 10km to do their shopping.
“The rules around shopping are the same as the rules around exercise … we don’t want anyone to go shopping outside of their local government area or more than 10 kilometres away,” she said.
“We are seeing people travelling those longer distances to do what’s critical shopping.
“But we know that workplaces and where people gather including places of essential services or essential goods is causing transmission.”
The spike in figures comes as the lockdown will be extended for another four weeks as the city struggles to contain the highly contagious delta variant.
This means there’s no chance of freedom until August 28. Lockdown measures extend to the Blue Mountains, Shellharbour and the Central Coast.
Originally published as Sad truth about Sydney ‘superspreader’ funeral as NSW records 177 Covid-19 cases
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails