Coronavirus NSW restrictions return: What you can and can’t do
A worker at the Marsden Park IKEA warehouse has tested positive to coronavirus, and is linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster. It comes as anyone who visited the Thai Rock restaurant is asked to self isolate regardless of symptoms.
NSW
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The IKEA distribution centre in Marsden Park has identified a coronavirus case linked to the Crossroads Hotel.
The staff member had no customer contact, and worked on July 6, 7 and 8.
“A thorough investigation by the public health team determined closure of the IKEA Distribution Centre was not required,” Western Sydney LHD’s Public Health Director Dr Shopna Bag said.
People who visited a Thai restaurant in Sydney’s west have been urged to immediately self-isolate for 14 days by NSW Health.
The advice is for people who attended the Thai Rock restaurant in Stockland Mall, Wetherill Park, on July 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14.
They should immediately seek testing and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of symptoms or if their test is negative.
The advice comes after a third case was linked to the restaurant — a customer who dined at Thai Rock on 10 July.
Earlier today, NSW Health advised that a woman in her 30s from south west Sydney worked at the restaurant on July 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14. Another identified case dined there on July 10.
Contact tracing is underway and investigations continue.
NSW WARNED IT’S NO TIME TO PARTY
One of Australia’s top doctors has warned Sydneysiders against partying this weekend before strict new state restrictions come into place next Friday.
“There are a number of restrictions being announced today. Some of those are already coming into play over this weekend, others will come into play next weekend,” Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Kelly said.
“The fact that those restrictions will come into place in those areas of southwest Sydney next weekend is not an excuse to have a huge party this weekend.
“This is a very dangerous time.”
Prof Kelly also described the rising number of cases in Victoria as “disturbing” but predicted that today’s figure of 408 new cases in the state was not “the peak yet”.
Three elderly Australians died in Victoria overnight, taking the nation’s death toll to 116.
He said the spread of the virus in the Crossroads Cluster proved it was extremely infectious.
“There are many people being infected by a single person within the Crossroads pub. We have seen very quickly several generations of transmission,” Dr Kelly said.
“The virus is circulating in Victoria, we have seen what happened in Melbourne, we do not want to see that happening in other parts of Australia, and in this case especially southwestern Sydney,” he said.
NSW VENUE RESTRICTIONS TIGHTENED
Indoor hospitality venues, weddings, funerals and corporate events face tougher COVID-19 restrictions from next Friday as the state remains on high alert against new clusters.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the changes come into place on July 24, giving businesses a week to prepare.
All indoor hospitality venues will be subject to a maximum of 10 people per group booking, and they must be seated. There is a mandatory requirement to have COVID-Safe plan and registration and a digital record of attendees within 24 hours.
Weddings and corporate events are capped at 150 people, seated, and subject to the four sqm rule, Ms Berejiklian said, adding there can be “no dancing, no singing, no mingling”.
Funerals and religious events can have a maximum of 100 attendees.
The changes come as it was revealed NSW Health is tracing a large number of people associated with the Crossroads cluster including several who visited Stockland Mall, Wetherill Park, while infectious.
EIGHT NEW CASES RECORDED IN NSW
Several cases of COVID-19 not linked to the Crossroads cluster continue to surface in NSW.
In the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night, eight cases were confirmed — two in hotel quarantine and six under investigation. At least three were linked to the hotel cluster.
However, between 8pm Thursday and 9am today, an additional five cases were detected.
Three are linked to the Crossroads cluster but did not attend the hotel.
The other two, a man in his 40s and a teen from the same household, are under investigation.
The number of infections linked to the Crossroads Hotel is now 42.
NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were two to four transmission chains within the Crossroads cluster, indicating the speed the virus spread.
HYGIENE MARSHALLS TO PATROL NSW PUBS
The new coronavirus rules on pubs and tougher restrictions on crowd numbers at sporting events were rolled out today.
Tough new compliance measures will also see dedicated Hygiene Marshalls patrol pubs to ensure the mandatory implementation of COVID-19 hygiene measures.
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This means every visitor will have to register their details with the venue, with these details set to be recorded electronically by the venue.
Patrons will also be expected to socially distance and marshals will enforce this along with proper cleaning of premises.
The new rules will be enforced with random, covert inspections with strict penalties applying to any venues that breach them.
NEW RULES ON COMMUNITY SPORT
The latest COVID-19 restrictions coincide with fresh caps on the number of people allowed at sporting matches.
Only one parent or guardian will be allowed on the sidelines for kids’ sporting matches under the strict new rules which exclude other relatives like grandparents and aunties and uncles.
The measures, which come into effect immediately, will also see anyone who visited a location with community infection within 14 days banned from being a spectator.
Anyone who has travelled to Victoria in the previous 14 days will also be banned from participating.
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Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant requested the new restrictions in a letter sent to sporting organisations on Thursday afternoon.
While the rules effectively ban extended family from games, a sole grandparent would technically be able to attend as a child’s carer or guardian.
The plan to “minimise community sport spectators where practical” means “we’d prefer no aunties and uncles, grandparents or siblings crowding the sidelines if they don’t need to be there,” Acting Sports Minister Geoff Lee said.
Originally published as Coronavirus NSW restrictions return: What you can and can’t do