Sydney health authorities have yet to answer the question of how the city's first local transmission in more than a month was infected with COVID-19 even as he had no apparent links to high-risk people or instances.
What Makes the Authorities Concerned?
Usually, locally-transmitted cases are dealt with more attention and higher alert levels, however, Australian authorities have become more fixated on this man in his 50s due to his particular circumstances.
The health department said tests carried out on the mystery case indicated that the man had a higher viral load compared to other people who tested positive of COVID-19.
According to the authorities, a higher viral load could potentially raise the chances that the infected patient has spread the virus before he was tested.
As part of the efforts to get to the bottom of the infection, the New South Wales (NSW) state health department outed a notice for residents with a list of places across the city that the patient has been to over the past few days.
More than a dozen venues were listed in the notice, including shopping centers, dining facilities, and cafes.
New Snap Restrictions in Place
As NSW authorities continue to search for patient zero who could have infected the mystery case, the Greater Sydney region has been put under new snap COVID-19 restrictions.
Starting Thursday from 5pm, authorities will implement the following restrictions through midday of May 10:
- Household visitors will be limited to 20 guests, both children and adults
- Residents will be required to use protective masks in all public indoor venues and public transport
- No singing by audiences at indoor shows
- No singing at indoor worship facilities
- No dancing at nightclubs and other hospitality venues
- Only two people will be allowed to visit aged care facilities
- In weddings, no more than 20 people will be allowed at the dancefloor
- Large family gatherings are restricted for Mother's Day
- Businesses will remain open
Berejiklian: An Infected Person is Roaming Sydney Streets
With new restrictions in place until May 10, NSW officials tried to defend the measures as they are "sure" that an infected person is still roaming around the city.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that "at least one person with the virus has been going around their business and we haven't found them yet."
Berejiklian added that at this point, authorities are unsure whether the COVID-19 patient has visited major events or where exactly the infected case has been to.
Finally, Berejiklian said the restrictions were put in place to ensure that Sydney residents will not be infected by the person or people believed to be infected and out in public.
Possibility of More Local Transmissions Keeps Officials Alert
Following the news that of Sydney's mystery COVID-19 infection, NSW officials said they are preparing for more confirmations of community transmissions.
While the unidentified patient was "very active in the inner east" of Sydney before he got tested earlier this week, the man did make use of venue QR codes, thus making it easier for authorities to track his whereabouts.
Since the pandemic started, Australia has reported more than 29,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 910 deaths.
