Infected teen went on camping trip through towns

REGIONAL NSW is on alert after a teen infected in Sydney’s Berala cluster went camping in the state’s west, stopping in major country towns.

The 18- year- old’s case came in addition to four other community transmissions in NSW reported on Tuesday from 26,000 tests.

None of the new cases was linked to Sydney’s northern beaches.

The teenager tested positive after leaving Berala in Sydney’s west and went to Orange, Nyngan and then Broken Hill for a camping trip over the weekend. He went for a test after waking up with a runny nose on Monday.

“This is a reminder of what can occur. What can occur for people moving out of Sydney,” Acting NSW Premier John Barilaro said.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said the teen had visited BWS Berala, the site of the state’s latest cluster, on Christmas Eve.

Victoria recorded three new locally acquired cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, as 32,544 Victorians were tested in the past 24 hours. The Department of Health also confirmed one new case in overseas arrivals.

There are 38 active COVID- 19 cases across the state. Victoria’s Health Department revealed it had assessed just 175 of 2295 exemption applications for people to enter the state for compassionate or medical reasons. A flight from Melbourne Airport was cancelled on Monday night after a crew member tested positive for coronavirus.

The Qatar Airways flight bound for Doha was scheduled to leave Melbourne with about 50 passengers at 10.30pm but instead took off with only its crew.