'Tis the season! Some very festive revellers hit the streets of Sydney to celebrate Christmas Eve in fine style - before waking up to a December 25th like no other the harbour city has ever seen
Thousands of festive revellers have hit the streets of Sydney to celebrate Christmas Eve despite even more venues across the city being put on a public health alert.
Sydneysiders didn't let the concerning increase in new Covid hotspots put a dampener on their pre-Christmas festivities, with hundreds seen hitting bars in The Rocks and Darling Harbour.
Partygoers appeared to be in high spirits as they attended the popular Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks before the sun went down.
The celebrations came just hours after NSW Health added a number of new venues to its public health alert list.
Patrons who dined at Glorietta Restaurant and Bar in North Sydney on December 16 between 12pm and 12.45pm are urged to immediately get tested for Covid and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
Partygoers appeared to be in high spirits as they attended the popular Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks before the sun went down
Sydneysiders didn't let the concerning increase in new Covid hotspots put a dampener on their pre-Christmas festivities, with hundreds hitting bars in The Rocks and Darling Harbour
The night of partying comes despite NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warning Sydneysiders not to become complacent over Christmas as parts of the city remain locked down
Anyone who attended Massage Link in Leichhardt, in Sydney's inner west, on Friday December 18 between 12.30pm and 1.15pm must also get tested and isolate for two weeks regardless of the result.
The virus has also spread to Marketplace shopping centre in Leichhardt. Customers who attended the mall between 2 and 2.30pm on Saturday December 19 must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Patrons who dined at Mr Café & Bar in Balmain on Thursday December 17 between 9 and 10am are instructed to do the same.
Local Bar Cafe in Rozelle, Darling Quarter food court, Ruby's Diner at Waverley and Rozelle IGA were also added to the list of public health alert venues after being visited by infected people.
Jubilant revellers were seen spilling out onto the streets after a night of partying in the early hours of Friday morning, but there weren't many masks in sight.
Jubilant revellers were seen spilling out onto the streets after a night of partying in the early hours of Friday morning, but there weren't many masks in sight
Patrons gathered in a beer garden of a pub in Darling Harbour on Christmas Eve, despite new hotspots being announced just hours earlier
Festive revellers have hit the streets of Sydney to celebrate Christmas Eve before the city wakes up to a December 25th like nothing the city has ever seen before
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Earlier this week Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged NSW residents to wear masks when travelling on public transport and in indoor settings.
'In terms of mask wearing - please make sure, if you're in an indoor setting, obviously on the Northern Beaches it's more paramount, but if you're catching public transport, you need to be wearing a mask,' Ms Berejiklian said.
'If you're going grocery shopping or indoor shopping in a mall or anywhere else, you need to be wearing a mask. Indoor settings that Health has already identified, you should be wearing a mask.'
The night of partying comes despite Ms Berejiklian warning Sydneysiders not to become complacent over Christmas.
Everyone should limit their movements and the number of people they see over the next few days, try to celebrate outdoors, and consider postponing events until the new year, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said.
Two glamourous women were seen heading out for a night on the town in The Rocks on Christmas Eve
Partygoers were seen spilling out onto the streets outside the beer garden of the Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks
Ms Berejiklian told reporters on Thursday that those experiencing even mild symptoms in the next few days should get tested and isolate.
'Do not wait until the 27th because if people wait you could be unintentionally infecting people and ruining Christmas for those closest to you,' she said.
NSW recorded nine new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday from a record of more than 60,000 tests.
Seven of the cases are linked to the 104-strong cluster on the northern beaches, while the sources of the other two infections are under investigation.
A record 60,184 people came forward for testing on Wednesday, which Ms Berejiklian says prompted her to nearly fell off her chair - 'literally'.
Health authorities have ramped up testing and pathology staffing, shortening queues and the turnaround for results, Dr Chant said.
NSW recorded nine new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday from a record of more than 60,000 tests - and while the Northern Beaches remain locked down, celebrations were in full swing elsewhere