Coronavirus NSW: Authorities investigate Belrose Hotel’s ‘missing link’

Authorities are scrambling to identify a link at the Belrose Hotel after three confirmed COVID cases. Here is what we know.

Authorities are now asking anyone that visited the Belrose Hotel at any time during the month of December to come forward for testing if they present with coronavirus symptoms.

There are now three positive COVID-19 cases linked to the venue, but none of the cases can be linked to each other, leaving contact tracers scrambling for answers.

One staff member at the hotel – a man in his 20s – contracted the disease on December 10 after experiencing a short fever following his shift.

Three people who attended the Belrose Hotel have tested postive for COVID-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

Authorities are working to identify the link between three people who attended the Belrose Hotel and tested positive for coronavirus. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

Another man – a firefighter who attended the hotel the following day on December 11 – also tested positive for COVID-19, but heath authorities believe he did not contract the disease from the hotel worker.

A third person, who attended the Belrose Hotel bottle store on December 17, tested positive for the virus as well, however the hotel worker was not working that day and does not work in the bottle shop.

“What we know, is that this gentleman in his 20s, has one of the earliest onsets of illnesses in the cluster,” NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

“This is part of our detective work … what we’re looking for is this missing link.

“Who else was present at the Belrose?”

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: Monique Harmer

Dr Chant said that other staff members at the hotel were tested for the virus, and all of those results came back negative.

She said that all people must come forward and get tested who have visited the hotel this month, especially those who may have been present between 12pm and 6pm on December 11.

“Even if you historically had an illness that you think in retrospect might have been compatible with COVID, please get a test,” Dr Chant said.

The possibility that the positive cases contracted the disease elsewhere and all coincidentally attended the hotel is also being explored.

The frantic search comes as authorities work toward finding the source of the Avalon cluster that sent the state into chaos in the lead up to Christmas.

Investigations are continuing into whether the Belrose Hotel cluster is be linked to the origins of the Avalon cluster.