NSW Covid Updates: New rule to stop anti-vaxxers using fake ID

An inner-city gym has emerged as as the source of infection for a 15 people in COVID-19 cluster. Read our Covid blog. 

City Gym, Fitness center in Darlinghurst, New South Wales.

The owner of an inner-city gym which emerged as the source of infection for 15 people with Covid-19 said the news has come as a “complete shock”.

Executive Director Billy Kokkinis of City Gym in Darlinghurst said he had been in regular contact with NSW Health and was “disappointed” to not have been informed of the new exposure cases in a “candid” manner.

 

Mr Kokkinis said three health inspectors visited the gym premises on Tuesday October 26 and claimed it was the “cleanest gym” they’d seen so far.

 

“Their health and safety are my priority, and it‘s disappointing that NSW Health could not afford me the same candid communication,” he said.

 

“You can’t tell me one day that we’re the cleanest gym and then the next day tell me we’re a hotspot.

 

“Conversely, they have expressed their applause and gratitude for our extra precautionary measures regarding our Covid safe practices calling us the ‘benchmark’.”

 

Mr Kokkinis said it was shocking to see the name of his gym being talked about in the media as a Covid-19 hot spot.

 

He was concerned that labelling the gym a ‘hot spot’ would insinuate that the business, including its staff and its customers, weren’t following appropriate health guidelines.

 

“We have been in undeviating contact with the NSW Health department, meticulously following their instruction regarding our Covid safe practices, procedures and updates,” Mr Kokkinis said.

 

“City Gym is an iconic long standing community gym, and as the figurehead, I pride myself on the transparency and honesty I provide to my members.

 

“We’ve got proof and evidence that we’re compliant.”

 

The gym owner also claimed that the NSW Health department had apologised to him over an earlier technical error in the system that alerted them to false Covid positive cases attending the premises.

 

“Our case manager even apologised to us for a “glitch” in their system when they repeatedly sent false messages to isolate and get tested,” Mr Kokkinis said.

 

“Unfairly, we were left to rectify this mistake while soaking up the anxiety and uncertainty from our members.”

 

NSW Health warned patrons who visited the gym between October 18 and October 23 and again on October 25 to isolate and get tested.

 

City Gym Sydney has been open since Freedom Day on October 11 and will remain open to fully vaccinated patrons.

Follow below for Wednesday morning's updates.