Sydney coronavirus crisis: northern beaches locked down for four days as cases rise to 38

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian says don't panic buy' and asks greater Sydney to abandon non-essential activity

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Sydney's northern beaches will enter a legally enforced four-day lockdown from 5pm on Saturday in an effort to preserve chances of a normal Christmas", as the number of cases believed to be linked to the state's cluster swells to 38.

The New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has warned the state should brace for new infection numbers announced on Sunday to be greater than the 23 locally acquired cases announced on Saturday, as she revealed her government would be consulting health experts throughout Saturday about extending a more relaxed version of the northern beaches lockdown to the rest of greater Sydney from Sunday.