- Another person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Bondi as health authorities urge Australians in their 50s to avoid AstraZeneca vaccines
- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed on Friday that a man in his 50s contracted while shopping at Bondi Junction
- Mask wearing has now been made mandatory for all public venues, both indoors and outdoors, across Sydney
- Meanwhile, the Federal Government announced on Thursday night that it now recommends people aged between 50 and 59 receive Pfizer jabs
- People who’ve already received the AstraZeneca vaccine, and didn’t suffer side effects, can still get the second dose
Another person has tested positive for COVID-19 in Bondi, while health authorities are now urging Australians in their 50s to avoid AstraZeneca vaccines.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed on Friday morning that a man in his 50s had tested positive for the virus.
It’s believed the man contracted the Delta strain after coming into contact with an infected person while shopping at Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Following the new case, mask-wearing has been made mandatory for all public venues, both indoors and outdoors, across Sydney.
“For the next five days we want everybody to wear masks on public transport to make sure that if the virus is circulating, it doesn’t spread on public transport,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“If you go to an indoor venue, you wear a mask, whether it is a cinema, hospitality or front-line hospitality workers.
“It is not compulsory but we are recommending that especially if you cannot guarantee social distancing especially in those places around the eastern suburbs.”
The growing outbreak in Sydney’s east comes as Australian health authorities updated the guidelines for COVID-19 vaccinations.
People aged between 50 and 59 are now being urged to avoid the AstraZeneca vaccine and receive Pfizer instead.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation made the recommendation to the Federal Government on Thursday.
The government said Australians in their 50s who’ve already received their first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine are still encouraged to get their second dose, unless they had strong side effects.
“Anyone who has had a first dose of AZ without problem should feel very confident to have their second dose,” Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said.
“On the basis of information we have in Australia, we’ve not had a single case of this [blood clotting] syndrome from a second dose.”