<p>Australia's New South Wales state has increased Covid-19 testing to rein in a resurgence of coronavirus infections in Sydney, with other states and territories taking similar steps on concerns the outbreak might have spread.</p>.<p>A record of nearly 70,000 tests were conducted on Thursday across New South Wales (NSW), home to about a quarter of Australia's 25-million population, officials said.</p>.<p>NSW recorded on Friday seven new cases of the coronavirus, six linked to an outbreak in the suburbs of Sydney's northern beaches that has kept more than a quarter of million in some sort of lockdown for nearly a week. The cluster now stands at 104.</p>.<p>Rain has kept people away from beaches and at home on Christmas Day, but officials urged social distancing at gatherings, cutting down on Boxing Day shopping and getting tested.</p>.<p>"I do not think anyone is having a normal Christmas today across NSW," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at a televised briefing. "Make sure you think very carefully about all the activities you are undertaking."</p>.<p id="page-title"><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html"><strong>Coronavirus Worldometer | 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a></p>.<p>The neighbouring state of Victoria, which has not seen a new Covid-19 case for eight straight weeks after battling a big outbreak for months, conducted more than 11,000 tests on Thursday.</p>.<p>The day before, a record of more than 96,000 Covid-19 tests were done across Australia.</p>.<p>"Well done Australia!" Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Twitter late on Thursday. "Let's all keep doing our bit to stay COVIDSafe."</p>.<p>Sydney has been virtually isolated from the rest of the country with state border closures or mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals from the city. The coronavirus outbreak has been largely contained to the affected suburbs, but there have been a handful of cases reported across Australia in the past week.</p>.<p>Australia has reported just over 28,000 coronavirus cases and 908 deaths so far, thanks in part to widespread testing, which is free at public health facilities.</p>
<p>Australia's New South Wales state has increased Covid-19 testing to rein in a resurgence of coronavirus infections in Sydney, with other states and territories taking similar steps on concerns the outbreak might have spread.</p>.<p>A record of nearly 70,000 tests were conducted on Thursday across New South Wales (NSW), home to about a quarter of Australia's 25-million population, officials said.</p>.<p>NSW recorded on Friday seven new cases of the coronavirus, six linked to an outbreak in the suburbs of Sydney's northern beaches that has kept more than a quarter of million in some sort of lockdown for nearly a week. The cluster now stands at 104.</p>.<p>Rain has kept people away from beaches and at home on Christmas Day, but officials urged social distancing at gatherings, cutting down on Boxing Day shopping and getting tested.</p>.<p>"I do not think anyone is having a normal Christmas today across NSW," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said at a televised briefing. "Make sure you think very carefully about all the activities you are undertaking."</p>.<p id="page-title"><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/coronavirus-updates-cases-deaths-country-wise-worldometers-info-data-covid-19-834531.html"><strong>Coronavirus Worldometer | 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a></p>.<p>The neighbouring state of Victoria, which has not seen a new Covid-19 case for eight straight weeks after battling a big outbreak for months, conducted more than 11,000 tests on Thursday.</p>.<p>The day before, a record of more than 96,000 Covid-19 tests were done across Australia.</p>.<p>"Well done Australia!" Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Twitter late on Thursday. "Let's all keep doing our bit to stay COVIDSafe."</p>.<p>Sydney has been virtually isolated from the rest of the country with state border closures or mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals from the city. The coronavirus outbreak has been largely contained to the affected suburbs, but there have been a handful of cases reported across Australia in the past week.</p>.<p>Australia has reported just over 28,000 coronavirus cases and 908 deaths so far, thanks in part to widespread testing, which is free at public health facilities.</p>