Covid Sydney: Westfield Bondi cluster grows as Delta strain spreads

The Covid strain circulating in Sydney’s Bondi virus cluster is so infectious it’s been passed on within seconds from people walking by. This comes as new venues were added to the alert list.

The “Delta” strain of Covid circulating in Sydney is so virulent it has infected people in seconds.

There were two new cases recorded on Saturday, a woman in her 40s and a 30-year-old man. Both visited the Bondi Junction Westfield, making it six cases of the highly infectious Delta strain in Sydney.

“It’s a virus that is very ­capable of transmitting, even when we have fleeting proximity with the individual who is infectious and any of us who may be passing by,” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

“This Delta virus would ­appear to be a near and present danger to anybody that is in the vicinity.”

Shoppers at Westfield Bondi Junction today where the latest Sydney Covid outbreak began. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The Delta variant is anywhere from 40 to 90 per cent more transmissible than the original Covid virus, Australian National University infectious disease expert Dr Gaetan Burgio said.

“Small changes in the spike protein, critical for the virus to enter into a cell are responsible for being more infectious and evading the immune system,” Dr Burgio said.

Simply walking past an ­infectious person after they have sneezed or touching something after them can ­result in instant infection, Griffith University virologist Nigel McMillan said.

“Clearly any kind of contact with an infected person, if done in the right way, can lead to infection,” he said.

NSW Health has tracked the movements of the limousine driver who triggered this latest Covid cluster through CCTV and found he had mere seconds of contact with a man in his 50s who tested positive on Friday. The two men passed by each other, coming within 50cm for a few seconds, which was obviously enough.

Cars queuing for Covid tests at Bondi on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Authorities are yet to track exactly how the two new cases came into contact with the limo driver but Mr Hazzard said just walking past someone can be enough.

“The concern we have is, even if you happen to be passing the person who is infectious – for example on an escalator, walking along a passageway – going through the air space of someone who has breathed out could see you become positive,” he said.

The Delta strain was first detected in India last October and quickly spread throughout the rest of the world. It ­engulfed India in a horrendous wave of infection and death and it is now the dominant strain in the UK.

Anyone who attended Westfield Bondi Junction on June 12 and 13 should get tested due to the highly transmissible nature of the delta strain. Picture: Toby Zerna

There are fears the cluster, which has been mostly confined to the eastern suburbs, could spread after one of the positive cases travelled on six trains, including Campbelltown to Central, Newtown to Central and Central to Bondi Junction.

Mr Hazzard said he was disappointed testing numbers were relatively low on Saturday at 26,631, calling for that number to double.

The Illawarra is also on high alert after NSW Health revealed the 30-year-old man travelled to the region before he tested positive. There were also new Sydney venues listed.

Some experts are so concerned about the Delta variant, they say Sydney needs a short lockdown.

“In my view, a short circuit-breaker lockdown should be considered in Sydney,” Dr Burgio said.

On Saturday night, NSW Health added a number of venues confirmed Covid-19 cases attended including gyms, supermarkets and chemists.

EXPERTS TRACK DELTA’S PATH

Health authorities are using a picture of the infectious limousine driver given to police to track CCTV of the man’s movements.

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Friday the man, who is being investigated by police for potential Covid breaches, was co-operating with the authorities.

“We are reviewing CCTV footage and can I thank the gentleman, the limousine driver, who has allowed us to have a picture of him that ­facilitates our investigation,” she said.

Cars queuing as people wait to be tested by medical staff working at the Bondi Drive Through Covid Testing Centre on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire

The CCTV footage has shown the driver did not have close face-to-face contact with the 70-year-old woman he infected at a Vaucluse cafe — instead they had only “fleeting” contact in an outdoor setting.

Police have interviewed the driver but are yet to provide any answers as to how many days he worked before getting tested on Tuesday.

On Friday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard did admit the system wasn’t perfect but stopped short of announcing any further crackdowns on airport drivers.

“Is it possible to absolutely guarantee that nothing can go wrong? Of course not,” he said.

MASKS BACK ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Masks are now compulsory on public transport for Greater Sydney and the Blue Mountains, but not in Wollongong and on the Central Coast.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has recommended people wear masks in indoor venues in Greater Sydney, especially in the eastern suburbs — however this is not compulsory.

On Friday, Ms Berejiklian had differing advice on big events, telling eastern suburbs residents to reconsider large gatherings but stressing Sydneysiders shouldn’t cancel tickets to any large events.

“If you are planning on going to an organised event, those events should proceed,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is encouraging people to wear masks at indoor venues. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

COMMUTERS ADAPT TO NEW OUTBREAK

Mandated masks The move has not fazed Lily Leighton, 22, who was one of the many changing their ­behaviour to fight the virus.

“I think it’s wise to, because everything changes so fast, one minute everything’s normal and the next there’s an outbreak,” she said.

“It’s important for everyone to do as much as they can.”

Lily Leighton wears her mask while catching a train. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ms Leighton is just one of the millions of us making mask wearing, hand sanitising and social distancing a daily ritual – and she’s frustrated to see the limousine driver potentially broke the rules.

“When you’ve got ­people who break the rules and ruin it for everyone else it’s very frustrating,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said on Friday she was happy to see the strong response of Sydneysiders to the fresh cases and praised the flexibility of the NSW population.

“We don’t want people panicking but at the same time we want everybody to be on high alert, we want everybody to appreciate if all of us do the right thing we will be able to get through the next few days without imposing extra requirements on our population.”