Avalon COVID cluster: ‘Urgent’ probe begins into latest case

Health officials are scrambling to work out how a man on the northern beaches became the latest person to catch COVID from a community source.

NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, confirms at a media briefing at St Leonards on Thursday morning that health officials are urgently trying to work out how a man on the northern beaches caught COVID-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

An “urgent” investigation is underway into how a man became the latest person to catch the coronavirus in Sydney.

The man, who lives in the locked down northern end of the northern beaches, was notified to health officials on Thursday morning.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant pictured speaking at a COVID-19 update press conference at St Leonards on Thursday with Health Minister Brad Hazzard (left) and Acting Premier John Barilaro. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW Health wants to urgently find who could have exposed that man to the virus.

He had been in quarantine, but developed symptoms after the full 14-day quarantine period was over.

The man then presented himself for testing and returned a positive result.

On Thursday afternoon NSW Health released time and date details of two Avalon shops — Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse — visited by the man.

Anyone who was in those premises at the same time, have been told to get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Woolworths: Saturday 2 January

3.45pm – 4pm

Sunday 3 January

12.45pm – 1pm

Monday 4 January

6.30pm – 6.50pm

Tuesday 5 January

4.45pm – 5pm

Wednesday 6 January

12.45pm – 1pm

Chemist Warehouse:

Sunday 3 January

1pm – 1.15pm

This case comes as the NSW Government confirmed there had been no community acquired COVID cases in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday night.

At a media briefing at 11am on Thursday NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said officials were notified on Thursday morning that a person “associated with the Avalon cluster” had tested positive.

Health officials will release information about the locations the infected man visited in and around Avalon (above). Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Investigations into the course of infection are urgently underway,” Dr Chant said.

The number of case linked to the Avalon cluster is now 150.

Dr Chant said the investigation into the new case would focus on who could have exposed that person to the virus and “presumably” who that man came into contact with during that period.

“Obviously that’s a matter of urgency to tackle that.

“It does highlight with that level of community transmission in the northern zone … this is the risk we want to tackle very promptly.”

The infected man went for a COVID test after symptoms developed when he came out of a 14-day quarantine period. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Dr Chant said it was premature to say whether this new case led to an extension of the lockdown beyond January 9.

“I know (the northern beaches) has been in lockdown for quite a while, but this actually explains why we need to be cautious,” she said.

Dr Chant said that because the infect.d man had been in the northern beaches lockdown, he had “few exposures” to the rest of the community since ending his quarantine period.

“We will be releasing information on those in due course, but clearly the person was wearing masks when out and about.

“There would have been very limited exposure settings, just to really go to the supermarket to get some food.”

Dr Chant praised testing numbers on the northern beaches, but contined to urge people to come forward.