Fireworks are seen above Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2021. Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.Photo:Xinhua

Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.

On Thursday Sydney recorded 10 additional locally acquired cases, while Melbourne broke a two-month COVID-19 free streak with three local cases the day before and added three additional cases on Thursday which were linked to the Sydney outbreak.

While Sydney will go ahead with a shortened fireworks display, Melbourne city officials opted to cancel its fireworks altogether as well as mandating the use of facemasks in public indoor areas and capping gatherings at 15 people.

The state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, endured a months-long lockdown earlier in the year after case numbers skyrocketed, with health officials eager to avoid a repeat of the situation.

Fireworks are seen above Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2021. Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.Photo:Xinhua

"Every Victorian deserves the right to mark what has been the most challenging year for all of us," Acting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said.

"However unfortunately what we know with this rampant and difficult virus is it doesn't end at midnight tonight."

Victorians who had travelled to Sydney were advised to return to their home state amid emphatic warnings that the situation could warrant stricter border conditions.

The state of South Australia meanwhile announced it would close its border to residents from the state of New South Wales beginning January 1.

With the number of cases linked to Sydney's December outbreak numbering around 150, residents were urged to seek testing and isolate themselves if they showed any symptoms whatsoever

"You do not want to contribute to super-spreading events which lead us to have to take other further public health measures in 2021," NSW Chief health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

Virus transmission expert, Dr Paul Harvey from Environmental Science Solutions told Xinhua that with each new round of case numbers released it looked more likely there will be a broader outbreak in Sydney outside of the Northern Beaches.

"The current measures by government appear to be slowing, but not stopping, the transmission of the virus," Harvey said.

"There is already a large number of strategies in place for NYE, but whether these will be sufficient for the NYE period remains to be seen."

Fireworks are seen above Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2021. Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.Photo:Xinhua

 

Fireworks are seen above Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2021. Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.Photo:Xinhua

 

Fireworks are seen above Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2021. Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.Photo:Xinhua

 

Fireworks are seen above Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1, 2021. Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations have been hampered by fresh COVID-19 cases in Sydney and Melbourne, with the public urged to spend the occasion at home.Photo:Xinhua