Millions could be free from masks by Monday as New South Wales records ZERO new Covid-19 cases

Millions could be free from masks by Monday as New South Wales records ZERO new coronavirus cases despite fears ‘BBQ Man’ may have spread it across the city

  • Millions of Australians may be free from masks in days after zero cases found
  • One new case was acquired by an overseas traveller staying in hotel quarantine 
  • NSW officials due to decide this weekend whether to extend Covid restrictions
  • Household gatherings are capped at 20 people, mask usage is still mandatory 

Millions of Australians could be free from masks within days after New South Wales recorded no new coronavirus cases on Friday.

The state’s health officials detected no additional local cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night from 15,810 tests. 

One new case was acquired by an overseas traveller in hotel quarantine. 

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is due to decide this weekend whether she will end tightened restrictions imposed in Greater Sydney until May 15 – which includes the mandatory wearing of masks in indoor venues and on public transport. 

Commuters wearing masks disembark from the light rail at Sydney’s Central Station on May 6. Health officials have no detected no additional cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night 

Health officials though still fear a man in his 50s dubbed ‘BBQ man’ may have unknowingly spread the virus to Sydneysiders across the city.

The infected eastern suburbs resident travelled across the city on May 1 and May 2, visiting four separate BBQ stores over the space of a few hours. 

Health authorities are still yet to establish how the man became infected with Covid, more than one week on from his positive test. 

‘I’m very comfortable about how things are going but obviously we will monitor how things are going in other states,’ NSW premier Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday. 

She said she cannot predict what advice health authorities will give her before deciding the current precautions that remain in place are still necessary.

‘But obviously every day that goes by with zero cases means that the health experts were more confident to let us go back to what we had last Thursday,’ Ms Berejiklian said.

Ms Berejikjlian said she cannot predict what advice health authorities will give her before deciding if precautions like mask-wearing on public transport (pictured) and a 20 person limit on visitors to homes are still necessary

Ms Berejikjlian said she cannot predict what advice health authorities will give her before deciding if precautions like mask-wearing on public transport (pictured) and a 20 person limit on visitors to homes are still necessary

More than 23,000 people were tested in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. Pictured, a Covid test being carried out in Bondi, Sydney's east

More than 23,000 people were tested in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. Pictured, a Covid test being carried out in Bondi, Sydney’s east 

‘What we always know is when clusters emerge. What we don’t know is how many clusters we prevented.’

Household gatherings remain capped at 20 people, mask usage remains mandatory on public transport and indoor venues such as theatres and aged care homes, and singing and dancing remains mostly banned. 

‘We’re pretty much having life as normal but for a few tweaks,’ Ms Berejiklian said.

About 75,000 people in NSW have registered to get vaccinated since Sydney’s purpose-built Covid-19 vaccination hub opened for business on Monday.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk