Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales has made masks compulsory and imposed new restrictions as its coronavirus cluster expanded by seven, while neighbouring Victoria recorded 10 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases.

According to Reuters, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian banned dancing and singing at night clubs while restricting numbers at gym classes, weddings, funerals and places of worship.

“We consider health and safety first and foremost, but we also need to think about well-being and jobs and the economy,” Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.

“And that’s why by putting these measures and settings in place we are confident we can continue to increase and encourage economic activity, give confidence to business and jobs, but also, of course, keep the virus at bay.”

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