Shoppers stay away from Sydney CBD sales – as it happened
Eight of the new cases are directly linked to the northern beaches cluster as the NSW premier urges shoppers to steer clear of the city centre for Boxing Day sales. This blog is now closed
NSW Covid hotspots - list of venues and case locationsNSW premier calls on shoppers to avoid Sydney's Boxing Day sales6.58am GMT
That is where I will leave you for the day. Thanks as always for following along. We'll be back tomorrow.
Here's what we learned today:
6.45am GMT
Coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit a record daily high of 949 cases on Saturday, Reuters reports, as Japan heads into the New Year holiday period, which in normal years sees citizens of the capital stream into the provinces.
Local media reported subdued scenes at Tokyo transport hubs a day after prime minister Yoshihide Suga, under pressure as daily cases continue to climb, urged the nation to stay home and avoid social mixing.