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New South Wales has recorded 30 new cases of coronavirus with 28 on the Northern Beaches and two being investigated.
From tonight until Wednesday night all Greater Sydney residents will be allowed a maximum of 10 people in their homes.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also banned dancing, singing and imposed a 4sq metre rule for venues in Greater Sydney.
The premier said she was pleased that the outbreak has not spread beyond the Northern Beaches.
‘While the numbers are higher today than yesterday, the one positive is we still have not seen evidence of massive seeding outside the Northern Beaches community,’ she said.
The mystery outbreak was identified on Wednesday afternoon when a couple in their 60s and 70s tested positive having visited venues across the Northern Beaches instead of self-isolating while awaiting results.
The strain of the virus is believed to be from the US but disease detectives have not worked out how it got out into the community. From Tuesday airline crews will be forced to quarantine at two hotels whenever they land in Sydney.
Thousands of people around the city queued for Covid-19 tests on Sunday morning. Pictured: Queues at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing centre which snaked around the block
NSW Health’s list of potentially infected locations has soared to 70. This map highlights Homebush, St Peters, Erskineville and Surry Hills among the newly identified
Panic buying has set in once more amid fear of lockdown. Pictured: Empty shelves of a Woolworths store in Northbridge
Sydney’s extraordinary contact tracing system – which has been described as ‘diamond standard’ – has linked almost all of the cases to two events at the Avalon RSL and the Avalon Bowlo, with the others under investigation
On Saturday night, a NSW Health alert revealed positive COVID-19 cases travelled beyond the Northern Beaches and into the inner-city, inner west and western suburbs.
The newly listed venues include Surry Hills, Forster, Narrabeen, Turramurra, Erskineville, St Peters, Mona Vale, Palm Beach, Raymond Terrace, Brookvale and Homebush.
Sydney’s Northern Beaches – which is at the centre of the outbreak – was plunged into lockdown from 5pm on Saturday and will remain shut off from the rest of the city until at least midnight on Wednesday in a last-ditch attempt to save Christmas.
Ms Berejiklian asked the rest of the Harbour City to stay at home and avoid non-essential activity.
Sydneysiders appeared to follow the premier’s request by bunkering down at home, with the CBD turning into a ghost town on Saturday night.
The popular Strawberry Hills Hotel in Surry Hills is one of 70 locations on alert across the city. A considerable number of new locations are outside of the Northern Beaches
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state government could extend the lockdown to other parts of Sydney as early as Sunday
An empty George Street in the Sydney CBD as residents of Greater Sydney are asked to consider staying at home on Saturday following a coronavirus outbreak
As of Saturday night, a total of 70 venues across NSW had been put on an alert list.
In the inner-city of Surry Hills, three venues have been visited by residents infected with COVID-19.
Anyone who visited Strawberry Hills Hotel from 3.30pm to 6pm on December 16 is considered a close contact and should be tested immediately and self-isolate until December 30.
Anyone who attended Nomad Restaurant from 6pm to 7.45pm on December 16 is also a close contact and should follow the same directions as those who attended the popular watering hole.
People who attended the café Cuckoo Callay in Surry Hills from 11am to 12pm are considered casual contacts and advised to get tested and self-isolate.
Other close contact locations include the Avalon RSL, Avalon Bowlo, The Sands in Narrabeen, Salon for Hair in Turramurra and Rose of Australia in Erskineville.
Those who attended the beginners class at Sydney Trapeze School in St Peters, the inner west, from 10am to 12pm are also considered close contacts and should be tested and isolate.
On the NSW Central Coast, anyone who dined in the outdoor verandah area of Café Toscano in Forster from 6pm to 7.45pm on December 16 is also considered a close contact.
Meanwhile, Beach Bums Café in Forster has been identified as a ‘casual contact’ location from 8am to 9am on December 16 and 17 – with advice to get tested and isolate.
The Victorian Government considers the NSW Central Coast an ‘orange zone’ like the greater Sydney, apart from the Northern Beaches, which is considered a ‘red hotspot’.
Northern Beaches locals are seen waiting in long lines for Covid-19 tests at the Brookvale Centre on Saturday
Those who attended the café Cuckoo Callay (pictured) in Surry Hills from 11am to 12pm are considered casual contacts and advised to get tested and self-isolate.
Shoppers wear face masks as they buy groceries at Woolworths in Avalon on Saturday
Those on the Central Coast and in greater Sydney can still enter Victoria but need to apply for a permit.
The rest of NSW is considered a ‘green zone’ and can visit Victoria but also need to apply for a permit online to gain access.
One coronavirus case travelled extensively on the T1 North Shore Line from Artarmon to Wynyard on Monday morning and back that night before making the same trip on Tuesday.
The T3 Bankstown Line from St James to Erskineville on Tuesday night and from Erskineville to Central on Wednesday morning are also affected.
New casual contact locations include Miter 10 Mona Vale, McDonald’s Raymond Terrace, Warringah Mall, High Tek Aquarium in Brookvale and Harris Farm Warehouse in Homebush.
On the Northern Beaches, NSW Health are advising anyone who dined at Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants at Avalon Beach from Monday December 14 to Thursday December 17 to get tested immediately.
The diners are close contacts and must self-isolate for 14 days.
Passengers on a train from Milsons Point on Saturday. One case travelled extensively on the T1 North Shore Line between Artarmon and Wynyard while another travelled on the T3 Bankstown line from St James to Erskineville and Erskineville to Central
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan reintroduced the hard border with NSW at 12am on Sunday, meaning all arrivals will be ‘turned away’ from then.
He slammed the NSW Government’s response to the pandemic on Saturday night, accusing them of playing ‘whack-a-mole’ with COVID-19 cases.
‘I just say to New South Wales, they need to get it under control,’ he said.
‘I don’t blame them for what’s happened, I’m not going to point the finger, I’m just saying to them they need to get it under control.’
Mr McGowan said the growing cluster is ‘causing grief all over Australia’ and the state government ‘needs to kill the virus in Sydney, in New South Wales’.
‘They seem to be engaging in a sort of form of whack-a-mole, they try and step on a gym here or a restaurant there,’ he said.
‘Rather than playing whack-a-mole, they need to kill all the moles.’
A man receives a COVID-19 test at a drive through testing station at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Saturday. NSW currently has 41 active cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, most of which are located to a cluster in Sydney’s Northern Beaches
Pictured: Cars drive past a COVID-19 alert sign on Mona Vale road at Belrose on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Saturday, December 19, 2020
Mr McGowan said the hard border between WA and NSW will remain in place indefinitely.
‘Right now, I don’t know how long the hard border with NSW will be up for,’ he said.
‘We hope it’s only for a short period – and we can reassess our border controls when the health advice says it is safe to do so.
‘Our community has been COVID-free for 252 days now. I want to keep it that way.’
NSW currently has 41 active cases of COVID-19 as of Saturday, most of which are located to a cluster in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Of the 38 cases in the Avalon cluster, 15 cases are linked to the Avalon RSL, 23 cases are linked to the Avalon Bowling Club, and several cases attended both venues.
Another two new locally acquired cases in the Northern Beaches are still under investigation while one was a NSW resident was diagnosed in Queensland.
WA is the first state to impose a hard border on NSW amid the current outbreak.
An empty station entrance at Milsons Point train station on Saturday, with just station staff seen tending to their duties
couple wearing face masks on an escalator in an almost-deserted Wynyard station
Some people wear face masks and some not at Town Hall in the Sydney CBD. While the Northern Beaches Council area is locked down, Ms Berejiklian is relying on the ‘good faith’ of other Sydneysiders to avoid nonessential travel
Healthworkers scramble to conduct coronavirus tests following an outbreak on Sydney’s Northern Beaches
Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT have all banned anyone who visited the Northern Beaches from December 11 from entering their state or territory.
Like WA, the Victorian government is also reportedly considering a hard border with NSW but has not formally commented on the matter yet.
Queensland has banned all NSW residents who have visited the Sydney’s Northern Beaches since December 11 from entering the state.
Only Queensland residents who visited the Northern Beaches can enter and will have to quarantine for 14 days upon entry.
From midnight on Saturday, everyone who enters Tasmania from the Greater Sydney area will be required to isolate for 14 days.
As a result of the outbreak, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been cancelled for the first time in 76 years.
The event organisers on Saturday night announced it was with ‘great sadness’ the 76th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race would not go ahead in 2020.
They said the coronavirus pandemic has distrupted sporting events across the world throughout the year and the ‘Great Race’ is another victim of the health crisis.
NSW public health alert – urgent call for testing (December 19)
Anyone who attended the following locations is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result:
- Nomad Restaurant, 16 Foster St, Surry Hills: Wednesday December 16, 12:45pm – 2pm
- Café Toscano (outdoor verandah area), 1 Wallis St, Forster: Wednesday December 16, 6pm-7:45pm
- Strawberry Hills Hotel, 453 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills: Wednesday December 16, 3:30pm-6pm
- Oceana Traders – Seafood Merchants, 31 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach: December 14, 15, 16, 17
- Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre, Lane Cove: December 11, 3.30-5pm
- Rusti Fig Café Newport: December 12, 9-10am
- Salon of Hair Turramurra: December 15, 10am-3pm, and December 16, 9.30am-3.30pm
- Anytime Fitness on Avalon Parade in Avalon: December 6, 7, 8, 11, 12
- Sunset Diner, 41 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach: Friday, December 11, 6.30pm – 8pm
- Hungry Ghost Café, 20 Avalon Parade, Avalon – Sunday, 13 December, 9.30am-11am and Tuesday, 15 December 9.30-11am
- Sneaky Grind Café, 3/48 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach – Monday, 14 December, 9.30-11am
- Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach – Monday, 14 December, 2-3.30pm
- Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach – Monday, 14 December 7-8pm
- Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), 4 Bowling Green Ln, Avalon Beach – Sunday, 13 December, 5-7pm (not 3-5pm as previously reported) and Tuesday, 15 December 3-5pm
- Palm Beach female change rooms – Sunday, 13 December 9-9.15am
- Coast Palm Beach Café, Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach – Sunday, 13 December 10-11am
Close and casual contacts, who must get tested and isolate until December 30:
- Sienna Marina, 7-41 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomoolo, 11 December, 12-2pm
- Pilgrims Vegetarian Café, 97 Gerrale St, Cronulla, 16 December 11.30am-2.30pm
- Cronulla RSL Club, 38 Gerrale St, Cronulla on 16 December, 5pm to closing time
People who visited the following venues at the below times should get tested immediately and self-isolate until NSW Health provides further information:
- Fitness First Mona Vale, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, 10 Park Street Mona Vale: Sunday 13 December, 2pm- 4pm and Monday 14 December, 10.30am – 12.30am and Wednesday 16 December, 8.30pm – 10pm
- 4 Pines, Newport, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Tuesday 15 December, 6pm – 10pm
People who have visited the following locations are casual contacts, and should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:
- Mitre 10 Mona Vale, 73 Bassett St, Mona Vale: Tuesday 15 December, 8:30am – 5:30pm and Wednesday 16 December, 8:30am – 5:30pm
- 2108 Espresso, 3/24 Ocean Rd, Palm Beach: Monday 14 December, 8am – 9am
- McDonald’s Raymond Terrace, William Bailey St, Raymond Terrace: Tuesday 15 December, 11.45am -12.15pm
- Warringah Mall: Wednesday 16 December, 10.40am – 1.40pm
- High Tek Aquarium, 732 Pittwater Rd, Brookvale: Wednesday 16 December, 1.55pm – 2.55pm
- Beach Bums Café, Corner Beach Street and North Street, Forster: Wednesday 16 December, 8am – 9am and Thursday 17 December, 8am–9am
- Rose of Australia, 1 Swanson St, Erskineville: Tuesday 15 December after 8.45pm
- Sydney Trapeze School, St Peters: Tuesday 15 December, any class after 10am
- Cuckoo Callay on Crown, 413-415 Crown St, Surry Hills: Tuesday 15 December, 11am – 12pm
- Harris Farm Warehouse, Flemington Markets, Homebush: Tuesday 15 December, 2am- 11am, Wednesday 16 December, 2am – 11am, Thursday 17 December, 2am- 1pm
- Café Relish, 8/1 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach: Thursday 17 December, 10.30am – 11.30am
- Nick Scali at SuperCentre, 4/6 Niangala Cl, Belrose, 16 December, 10am -5.30pm
- Coles Newport, 11 December, 5-7pm, and 12 December, 3.15-3.30pm
- Hills Florist, Terrey Hills, 12 December, 8-8.45am – close contacts have been contacted directly by NSW Health
- Restaurant Lovat, Newport, 12 December, 2.15-2.25pm and 4.10-4.15pm
- Nourished Wholefood Café, Avalon, 12 December, 7.30-7.40am
- RAN Sailing Association Darling Point, Navy Bear Café and Christmas party, 13 December, 10am 4pm
- Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 13 December, 6-8pm
- Seven West Media Building, 8 Central Ave, Eveleigh, 14 December, 8-11.30am
- Mentmore and Morley Café and public toilets, 55 Mentmore Ave, Roseberry, 14 December 10am-3pm
- Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, 14 December, 11-11.10am
- Paris Seafood Café, 136 Cronulla, 15 December, 8.30-9pm
- Cronulla Mall, 15 December, 8-9pm and 16 December 11am-12pm
- Blend @ Grantham Café, Riverstone, 16 December 11-11.45am
- Westfield Bondi Junction, 15 December, 1-2.30pm
- Forest Way Fruit Market, 2 Myoora St, Terrey Hills, 16 December, 4-4.10pm
- Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Rd, Mona Vale – Monday, 14 December, 4.30-4.45pm
- Woolworths Avalon Beach, 74 Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach – Tuesday, 15 December, 12-12.30pm
- Oliver’s Pie, Careel Shopping Village, 1 Careel Head Rd, Avalon Beach – Monday, 14 December, 9-9.15am
- Woolworths Avalon Beach, 74 Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach – Sunday, 13 December, 12-5pm
- Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12-12.30pm
- Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12.45-1.30pm
- Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
- Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am
- Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5-5.30pm
- Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5.20‑5.25pm
- Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.15pm
- Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.20pm Roof Racks World, 15 December, 2-2:30pm
- HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, 15 December 4.30-4.45pm
- Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why, 15 December, 4.45-4.55pm
- North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 6-6.05pm
- Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, 16 December 7‑7:30am
- Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 16 December, 8am-9am
- Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, 16 December, 2pm-2:05pm
- Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 16 December 3.30-3.50pm
- Avalon RSL club 11 December all day till closed
- Penrith RSL club 13 December 1-6 pm
- Kirribilli club 14 December 12-3 pm
Confirmed cases travelled on the following transport services. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
- T1 North Shore Line, Monday 14 December, departing Artarmon 8:27am, arriving Wynyard 8:49am
- T1 North Shore Line, Monday 14 December, departing Wynyard 6:42pm, arriving Artarmon 7:01pm
- T1 North Shore Line, Tuesday 15 December, departing Artarmon 9:17am, arriving Wynyard 9:38am
- T3 Bankstown Line, Tuesday 15 December, departing St James 6:34pm arriving Erskineville 6:48pm
- T3 Bankstown Line, Wednesday 16 December, departing Erskineville 7:03am, arriving Central 7:12am
- Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, 16 December, 6.15pm-6.35pm
- Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD:
- Route 273, 15 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville, 7.10am and arriving QVB, 8am
- Route 271, 15 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose 6.28pm
- Route 273, 16 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD, 8am
- Route 271, 16 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose, 6.28pm
- Warriewood B-Line:
- Route B1-1, 14 December, Departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6.55am, arriving Wynyard Station, York Street Stand M, 7.50am
- Route B1-2, 14 December 2020, Departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5.45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.40pm
- Route B1-1, 15 December 2020, Departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6.35am, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7.35am
- Route B1-2, 15 December 2020, Departing Wynyard Station Stand B 5.25pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 6.20pm
- Route B1-1, 16 December 2020, Departing Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd 6:50am, arriving Wynyard Station Stand M, 7.35am
- Route B1-2, 16 December 2020, Departing Wynyard Station Stand B 4.45pm, arriving Warriewood BLine, Pittwater Rd, 5.30pm
People queue up in their cars to be tested at a drive-thru Covid-19 testing facility at Avalon
