Coronavirus NSW: Nine new cases, Sydney gym cluster grows
A man has allegedly pulled a knife on police after travelling to Cronulla from Victoria on a boat. Meanwhile, two new cases have been identified this afternoon with NSW Health issuing alerts for several Central Coast-CBD trains and a David Jones store.
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A man will face court after allegedly pulling a knife on police when he was sprung sneaking into NSW from Victoria on a boat.
Marine Area Command police spotted the vessel off the coast of Cronulla on Tuesday afternoon and attempted to talk to the 61-year-old.
Police say the man was alone on the boat and refused to disembark before allegedly turning aggressive and threatening officers with a knife.
He was tasered and taken to Sutherland Hospital for treatment before being released and charged with not comply with noticed direction – COVID-19 at Sutherland Police Station.
He was granted bail to appear in court next month.
Three other people were hit with $1000 fines for COVID-19 breaches including a woman who allegedly attempted to cross into NSW at Albury.
NEW ALERTS ISSUED FOR SYDNEY VENUES
The David Jones food hall on Elizabeth St was closed on Thursday after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
The employee worked at the venue while infectious on Tuesday and is currently in isolation while the hall is subjected to a deep clean. All other floors of the department store remain open.
NSW Health has identified another case, which will be reflected in Friday’s case total, who travelled on several trains in the past week.
Anyone who also travelled on the following trains must monitor for symptoms:
Monday 24 August:
– Sydney-bound train, departing Woy Woy station at 6.31am, arriving Wynyard station at 7:50am
– Northbound train, departing Town Hall station at 5:31pm, arriving Woy Woy station at 6:54pm
Tuesday 25 August:
– Sydney-bound train, departing Woy Woy station at 6.31am, arriving Gordon station at 7:21am
– Northbound train, departing Hornsby station at 7:53am, arriving Woy Woy station at 8:28am
NINE NSW CASES AS GYM CLUSTER GROWS
NSW recorded nine new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, all connected to a known source.
Worryingly, a new cluster in the CBD has emerged, with eight cases now linked to the city outbreak.
Five of today’s cases have been linked to the CBD cluster, with three having attended the City Tattersalls Club gym.
Anyone who attended the gym between 8am to 2pm on August 19, 21, or 23 must now go into self isolation for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19.
A case also attended one of the gaming areas at City Tattersalls on August 24.
Of today’s cases, four were “close contacts” of previously announced cases.
Among the cases are three employees of JP Morgan in the city, who had all been at home since Tuesday.
A new health alert has been issued for the Hunters Hill Bowling Club. Anyone who attended the indoor dining room on 23 August from 12pm to 2pm is a close contact of a COVID case and must isolate for 14 days.
People who attended other parts of the venue need to monitor for symptoms.
A spate of other venues have also been linked to positive cases, sparking a warning for attendees to get tested at the sign of the mildest symptoms.
The venues and times of concern are:
● 4 Pines Manly Brew Bar The Esplanade – 23 August from 3.30pm to 5pm
● Magpies Waitara restaurant – 24 August from 11.30am to 1:15pm
● Destro’s Pharmacy 197-201 Victoria Road Drummoyne – 22 August from 11.20am to 11.40am
● Fitness First Bond St – 20 and 21 August from noon and 4.30pm
● Fitness First Balgowlah – 23 August from 9am to 12pm
● PRP Diagnostic Imaging, 16-20 Edgeworth David Ave, Hornsby – 24 August from 10am to 11.15am
● Harris Farm, High St Willoughby – 22 August 4.00pm to 5.00pm
NSW Health is also contacting attendees of the two gyms who have been deemed “close contacts,” meaning they need to go into isolation for two weeks.
More than 30,000 people were tested yesterday, up from 25,874 the day before.
MORE SYDNEY VENUE ALERTS
Customers inside a Sydney hospital’s cafe and a Zetland gym are also on alert alongside western Sydney bus passengers after NSW Health linked confirmed COVID-19 cases to their locations.
The Royal Hospital for Women’s Windscreens Cafe was ordered closed for cleaning on Wednesday after a new confirmed case from City Tattersalls gym visited on August 25.
A statement from NSW Health said the positive case followed the Randwick-based hospital’s COVID-safe measures during the visit and there was “no ongoing risk” to other visitors, patients or staff.
Two cases linked to the gym also travelled by bus on the 339 and X39 routes to and from Randwick to Martin Place on August 21, 22 and 24.
Anyone who catches the same routes should monitor themselves for symptoms.
NSW Health is also asking people who went to the Active Dance class at Virgin Gym Zetland at 7:40pm on August 24 to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days.
Other people who went to the gym between 7:30pm to 10pm on August 24 should get tested if they show symptoms.
A trainee bus driver included in Wednesday’s case count worked three days while infectious, driving routes in Blacktown, Rouse Hill and Mt Druitt on August 20, 21 and 24.
Riverstone High School, Wyndham College and Schofield Public School will remain closed today as a precaution while possible cases linked to the schools are tested and confirmed.
VICTORIA LATEST
Twenty-three people have lost their lives and a further 113 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Victoria in the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday.
The new deaths include one man in his 60s, one woman and four men in their 70s, six women and three men in their 80s and five women and three men in their 90s with 22 of the 23 linked to aged care outbreaks.
“I’m saddened to have to report there are now 485 Victorians who have lost their life due to this global pandemic,” Premier Dan Andrews said today.
“Our thoughts, our condolences, or deepest sympathies are with each of those families at a very, very difficult time.
“There are 532 Victorians in hospital. 29 of those are receiving intensive care and 11 of the 29 are on a ventilator.”
Thursday’s figure is the lowest since 75 cases were recorded on July 5.
It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews has backed down from his plans to extend the state of emergency provisions for a year, the Herald Sun reports.
Crossbench sources have confirmed Health Minister Jenny Mikakos late Wednesday made an offer to reduce the time period but now wants six months instead.
However the government is refusing crossbench requests to submit ministers for grilling before a select committee.
They have instead offered to extend the current PAEC hearings on COVID.
But crossbenchers are unhappy with that deal as PAEC is stacked with Labor members and are demanding more transparency.
Negotiations are ongoing.
REGIONAL NSW MAY LIFT RESTRICTIONS
The Premier said she was willing to examine relaxing COVID-19 restrictions on a regional basis, as she outlined the critical role the bush can play in the state’s recovery from the pandemic.
It can be revealed Gladys Berejiklian has left the door open to a regional based approach to restrictions, saying the virus crisis had taught her that “we can’t be fixed in our views because the pandemic is evolving and our response has to be evolving”.
“If we can look at opportunities throughout the state of dealing with particular regions in particular ways we’re open to that,” she said.
The Premier still expressed caution, saying: “We’re not out of the woods yet, especially given we are mindful that we want to relax to an extent the border issues we have with Victoria and that poses a risk to regional NSW.
“The regions aren’t immune but we’re open minded and if we can move faster in some areas and have to slow down in others we should be open minded to that.”
Until now, the Premier has kept the regions and the CBD tied to the same COVID-19 restrictions for safety and simplicity.
She cautioned on Wednesday that this simplicity was important for business and the economy but added “having said that I’ve learnt not to be so definitive because the situation is evolving”.
Ms Berejiklian said she saw “green shoots” in the regions, after years of being gripped by drought and then battered by bushfires.
She said she wanted not just a “recovery” plan for the bush but a “growth strategy”, describing how regional NSW had the potential to drive NSW’s economic recovery through COVID.
She noted that the state’s drought recovery was coinciding with the need to create new jobs and the bushfire rebuild, saying that all of these elements timed together presented a unique opportunity for the bush.
“The bush is poised to make a huge difference to NSW in the next few years and beyond — it is poised to experience a period of positive growth and opportunity we haven’t seen the likes of in years,” she said.
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