COVID: Baulkham Hills, Bondi men test positive, venue alerts released

NSW Health has identified more venues of concern after a fifth potential case of COVID-19 was identified in Sydney’s east. Close contacts will be ordered into isolation for two weeks.

Sydney is on high alert as NSW Health identifies new venues of concern in the wake of yet another locally acquired COVID-19 case.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed a man in his 50s who shopped at Myer Bondi Junction at the same time as the current Patient Zero – a male limo driver in his 60s from the eastern suburbs with the Delta strain who transported international flight crews from Sydney Airport – has now contracted COVID-19.

He is the fifth case in the current outbreak, including the limo’s driver’s wife, a woman in her 70s who attended the same Vaucluse cafe as him, and a man from Sydney’s Hills District who is unlinked and being investigated as a potential false positive.

NSW Health has now identified a number of further venues of concern pertaining to the fifth case.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant speaks during a COVID-19 update in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Anyone who attended The Twisted Olive at 684 Bourke St Redfern on June 13 from 12.20pm to 1.30pm has been ordered to call NSW Health immediately, get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.

Anyone who attended the Greenwood Grocer at Greenwood Plaza on 71-36 Blue St North Sydney on June 15 from 5pm to 5.20pm is considered a casual contact and must immediately call NSW Health, get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Anyone who attended The Alkalizer at the Campbelltown Council Building on 91 Queen St on June 15 between 9am and 10am or Adora Handmade Chocolates at 2/325 King St Newtown on June 13 from 2pm to 3.30pm must get tested and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health.

There’s been a huge increase of people getting tested over the last 24 hours. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

NSW Health has now asked more than 1100 people to get tested and self-isolate pending further advice.

All household members of these identified contacts are also required to self-isolate until the contact receives a negative result.

Masks will now be required on public transport in greater Sydney for the next five days and during visits to aged care facilities, which will be limited to two visitors per day.

Lily Leighton from Port Macquarie pictured wearing a face mask whilst on a train at Central Station in Sydney after the recent outbreak of COVID-19. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW Health has also advised COVID-19 viral fragments were detected in sewage at the Camellia North and Camellia South pumping stations in Sydney’s west.

The catchments incorporate about 109,600 people in suburbs including Camellia, Harris Park, Granville, South Granville, Mays Hill, Merrylands, Merrylands West, North Parramatta, Parramatta, South Wentworthville, Westmead, Guildford West, Sydney Olympic Park, Newington, Holroyd, Clyde, Auburn, Old Guildford, Guildford, Silverwater, Rosehill and Rydalmere.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at today’s press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Premier Berejiklian previously announced the man in his 40s from Baulkham Hills had tested positive for COVID-19 at her Thursday morning COVID briefing.

At the time, Premier Berejiklian said NSW Health would investigate whether the case could be a false positive.

The man in question is not yet linked to any active cases.

NSW Health said he has “low viral levels” and the timing and source of infection is being urgently investigated through additional testing and interviews.

Anyone who attended Northmead Bowling Club at 166 Windsor Rd on June 13 beteen 3.30pm and 10pm has been asked to immediately call NSW Health on 1800 943 553, get tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health.

A NSW Health statement late on Thursday characterised the move as being “out of an abundance of caution”.

Massive queues were seen for the Bondi Beach COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic.

He also travelled to Canberra earlier in the week, with ACT Health now issuing alerts for two venues.

Anyone who attended the National Gallery of Australia, the Botticelli to Van Gogh exhibition and exhibition gift shop on June 14 from 12pm to 1.45pm must immediately get tested and self-isolate until further notice from ACT Health.

The same direction applies to anyone who attended Canberra City’s Via Dolce Pasticceria between 2.45pm and 3.15pm on June 14.

A health worker registers a resident at a COVID-19 drive through testing site on Bondi Beach. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)

In relation to previously identified cases, anyone who attended Lorna Jane at East Village Shopping Centre in Zetland between 11am and 1pm on June 14 is considered a close contact, and is required to immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.

Anyone who attended any part of the East Village Shopping Centre between 11am and 1pm on June 14 or The Health Emporium at 263-265 Bondi Rd Bondi between 12.15pm and 12.45pm on June 15 is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Casual contacts should also continue to monitor for symptoms and get tested and isolate again if they appear.

Venue alerts were previously issued for the Hills including Castle Hill’s Spotlight between 11am and 11.20am on June 15.

An alert was also issued for Castle Hill’s Contents International Design and Luxury Store at the Hills Super Center North, Victoria Ave also on June 15 between 11.20am and 11.45am.

It comes after COVID was detected in sewage in the Hills last week.

More to come.