Northern beaches COVID cluster: Residents told to stay at home, as number of cases jumps to 28
The number of COVID-19 cases linked to the northern beaches cluster has jumped to 28, with staff and students at one high school asked to self-isolate.
Manly
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The northern beaches COVID cluster has exploded with 28 cases now confirmed, as it has also been revealed that staff and students at one high school have been asked to self-isolate until further notice.
In a message on the Barrenjoey High School’s website it said that “a member of our school community has tested positive for COVID-19”.
It goes on to say all staff and students are asked to self-isolate until they receive further advice from the principal Mark Robinson or the Department of Education.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said earlier on Friday that people have to put in the “hard work now” so “all of us to have a much better Christmas”.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also praised northern beaches residents for their cooperation on Friday.
“We’ve dealt with this before, we’ll deal with it again,” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s important that people just remain calm about these issues and follow the instructions that they’re receiving from their local health authorities.”
However, late on Friday, it was revealed that while people were trying to do the right thing, a pop-up testing centre had sent people away who had been waiting five and a half hours because it was closing for the day.
The drive-in clinic at the old Manly Hospital, closed at 4pm.
One frustrated resident Fiona Pearse said on social media she had lined up for five and half hours to be turned away and that there were hundreds of cars behind her.
Manly MP James Griffin said people were doing the right thing, but there were capacity issues and he had reported the problem to NSW Health.
“We are aware of this issue, reviewing and re-allocating resources where required to improve service times,” he said.
The number of confirmed cases jumped from 17 yesterday to 28 overnight, resulting in NSW Health issuing a ‘stay at home’ message to the 250,000 northern beaches residents at the centre of the outbreak.
Dr Kerry Chant, NSW chief medical officer, said the 28 cases linked to the Avalon cluster, include one person that then travelled to Queensland.
In terms of a breakdown eight of the confirmed cases attended the Avalon RSL on December 11 and 16 attended the Avalon Bowlo on December 13.
Two cases attended both venues, and two cases have been linked to one or either of these venues.
“So that clearly shows that we’ve had a significant seeding event,” she said at a press conference this morning.
She said the “seeding” occurred on December 11, and those infected then attended the Avalon Bowlo, which “amplified the infection further”.
She said all those who attended those venues on those dates should have been contacted by NSW Health and that it was essential they got tested.
She also added that a number of people who were at the two venues live outside the northern beaches and they are currently self-isolating.
Dr Chant said genome sequencing showed it was an international strain, with US origins, and possibly linked to an international traveller who returned to Australia on December 1.
The female traveller is still in quarantine.
There are now 30 sites including supermarkets, pubs, a bowling club and a chemist, that have been listed as potential exposure points, with that number also expected to grow.
A new venue Johnson Bros Mitre 10 in Mona Vale is expected to be added to the list.
The owners of the popular hardware shop confirmed one of its staff had tested positive for COVID-19.
Johnson Bros Mitre 10 at Mona Vale posted a message to its customers and suppliers on its Facebook at lunchtime on Friday advising that the infected person had worked in the shop, in Bassett St, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
A staff member confirmed the positive test to the Manly Daily and said the firm’s other Mitre 10 outlet, at Avalon, was still open today.
“One of our staff members at Mona Vale has returned a positive result that worked in the store on Tuesday and Wednesday,” the post read.
“We have not yet heard from any authorities, but with the wellbeing of our staff and customers in mind, we are voluntarily closing. We have sent all staff home to isolate and be tested. As such, we have closed the store.
“We do not take closing the store lightly and we appreciate everyone’s understanding.”
The post said the staff member, who showed symptoms, was tested on Thursday morning after the list venues where infected people had been was released on Wednesday night.
“We are still awaiting contact from authorities regarding procedure, but are in the process of organising a deep clean,” the post said.
Early on Friday authorities closed a popular outdoor market, The Beaches Market market at Warriewood due it high numbers.
Police confirmed that officials from Northern Beaches Council, at North Narrabeen Reserve, shut the weekely market, with dozens of stalls selling fresh food and non-food products including clothing down at 9am, after it was deemed to not meet social distancing rules.
Other businesses also voluntarily closing as a precaution include Manly Kayak Centre and the Manly Skiff Club, along with a number of gyms. Manly Markets will also not go ahead this weekend.
In an effort to keep people at home, all 21 beaches between Manly and Palm Beach are now closed and will not be patroled by volunteer life savers this weekend.
MP James Griffin called for residents to support businesses relying on pre-Christmas trading by looking at gift cards, deliveries or moving booking dates before cancelling.
Northern Beaches Council has closed libraries, outdoor gyms, playgrounds and are reducing the number of people who can gather outdoors from 100 to 10.
In order to stop the spread of the virus, NSW Health has also advised residents to stay at home for the next three days.
This includes working from home where possible, not visiting aged care facilities or hospitals unless essential, avoiding unnecessary gatherings and high risk venues such as clubs, restaurants, places of worship and gyms, and avoiding unnecessary travel outside of the peninsula.
Health authorities are also urging people to get tests and residents were praised for going to COVID clinics in their thousands.
On Friday morning, people were queuing at COVID testing centres across the peninsula from dawn.
A number of pop-up centres have opened to help cope with demand.
At a drive-in pop-up at the old Manly hospital side on North Head cars were queueing for close to four hours this morning.
The Cannon Family, from Freshwater, were waiting in their four-wheel-drive with three children under the age of eight.
Mum Lizzie Cannon told the Manly Daily that Netflix on smart phones have been the key to keeping the kids amused while they waited for their turn to be tested.
“We got here just after 8am this morning,” Ms Cannon said. “If we knew how long it was going to take we probably wouldn’t have come down this morning and waited a little longer.
“We decided to get tested just so we could be eliminated. The more people you get tested the better.
“When you live in a house full of kids, you often get sniffles and coughs, it’s a good idea to be tested.”
The new cluster which is predominantly in the north of the peninsula, with Avalon being the epicentre, has also caused panic buying, with long queues at supermarkets and reports of toilet roll shortage.
Mackellar federal Liberal MP Jason Falinski praised his constituents for “doing the right thing” and getting tested.
“I think people are doing the right thing, getting tested, waiting calmly in line without getting agitated,” he said.
He praised NSW Health for its “globally recognised track and trace system”, and health staff for organising six pop-up testing clinics in 24 hours.
“What is going to beat this is everyone being responsible and self-isolating,” Mr Falinski said.
“We want people to stay positive and test negative.”
He added his support for mask-wearing saying if it is possible, it is a good idea.
He said while it may not stop people getting the virus, evidence suggests it helps to stop the spread.
“If we can wear masks we should,” he said.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan told ABC this morning that he would like to see mandated masks on the peninsula in situations like now when “we’re trying to get on top of it”.
“The good news is that by and large there have been reports of supermarkets saying they’re seeing a massive increase in just the last 24 hours of people wearing masks,” he said.
The cluster has also spoiled Christmas plans for many with changes to border restrictions announced overnight and special conditions imposed on people from the northern beaches travelling interstate.
Tasmania has named northern beaches as a “high risk” area and residents are no longer allowed to enter the state.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard told the Manly Daily on Thursday he feared the outbreak was the result of “effectively a super spreader”.
“The comments from NSW Health officials indicate that someone has attended the Avalon RSL and may well have been effectively a super spreader and health is working on that theory,” he said.
The explosion in cases led Mr Hazzard, also Wakehurst MP, to make an impassioned plea to his fellow northern beaches residents
“Our residents on the beaches have always been a fantastic team when it comes to any of the big issues, as a lifelong local resident this is probably one of the biggest issues we have had to face
“I am certainly asking all locals to listen and heed the message from NSW Health. The old joke that none of us like to move past the Spit Bridge or Roseville Bridge is now a serious message. Just stay on the beaches for the next few days while NSW Health sorts out the issues.”
HEALTH ADVICE
Anyone who attended the following locations is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result:
· Hair by Erika, Village Shopping Centre Lane Cove, 11 December, 3.30-5pm
· Rusti Fig Café Newport, 12 December, 9-10am
· Salon of Hair Turramurra, 15 December, 10am-3pm, and 16 December, 9.30am-3.30pm
People who have visited the following northern beaches locations should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:
Coles Newport, 11 December, 5-7pm, and 12 December, 3.15-3.30pm
Hills Florist, Terrey Hills, 12 December, 8-8.45am
Restaurant Lovat, Newport, 12 December, 2.15-2.25pm and 4.10-4.15pm
Nourished Wholefood Café, Avalon, 12 December, 7.30-7.40am
RAN Sailing Association Darling Point, Navy Bear Café and Christmas party, 13 December, 10am‑4pm
Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 13 December, 6-8pm
Seven West Media Building, 8 Central Ave, Eveleigh, 14 December, 8-11.30am
Mentmore and Morley Café and public toilets, 55 Mentmore Ave, Roseberry, 14 December 10am-3pm
Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, 14 December, 11-11.10am
Paris Seafood Café, 136 Cronulla, 15 December, 8.30-9pm
Cronulla Mall, 15 December, 8-9pm and 16 December 11am-12pm
Blend @ Grantham Café, Riverstone, 16 December 11-11.45am
Westfield Bondi Junction, 15 December, 1-2.30pm
Forest Way Fruit Market, 2 Myoora St, Terrey Hills, 16 December, 4-4.10pm
Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12-12.30pm
Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12.45-1.30pm
Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am
Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5-5.30pm
Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5.20‑5.25pm
Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.15pm
Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.20pm
Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Rd, Artarmon, 15 December, 2-2:30pm
HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, 15 December 4.30-4.45pm
Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Ave, Dee Why, 15 December, 4.45-4.55pm
North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 6-6.05pm
Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, 16 December 7‑7:30am
Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 16 December, 8am-9am
Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, 16 December, 2pm-2:05pm
Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 16 December 3.30-3.50pm
The complete list of these venues are available on the NSW Health website www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
TRANSPORT
Confirmed cases travelled on these transport services. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, 16 December, 6.15pm-6.35pm
Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD
Route 273, 15 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville, 7.10am and arriving QVB, 8am
Route 271, 15 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose 6.28pm
Route 273, 16 December, Departing Jamieson Square, Forestville 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD, 8am
Route 271, 16 December, Departing QVB 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose, 6.28pm
WHERE TO GET YOUR TEST:
Avalon pop-up, Avalon Recreation Centre, 59 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon and will open from midday (8am to 10pm)
Newport Pop up, Newport Community Centre, 11-13 The Boulevard, Newport open from 2pm (8am to 10pm)
Warringah Aquatic Centre Drive-through, 1 Aquatic Dr, Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 open from 3pm (8am to 10pm)
Warriewood Histopath Drive through Pathology, 1472 Pittwater Road, Warriewood, NSW, 2102
North Narrabeen Clinical Labs Pathology Drive-through Clinic, 1416 Pittwater Road, Narrabeen, NSW, 2101
Manly Histopath Pathology Drive-through and Walk In, Old Manly Hospital
150 Darley Road, Manly, NSW, 2095
Other Northern Beaches testing centres are located at:
Mona Vale Hospital, Gate 3 Coronation Street, Mona Vale – walk-in clinic – open 7.30am-5.30pm seven days a week – staffing increased to assist with testing demand
Brookvale Community Health Centre, 612-624 Pittwater Road, Brookvale – open 8am-6pm 7 days
Northern Beaches Hospital, 105 Frenchs Forest Road (West), Frenchs Forest, (Rear of Emergency Department) – open 8am- 5pm 7 days
These sites are operational until 10pm, however if needed they will continue past 10pm to continue providing testing to the community.
Facilities and services which will be temporarily closed until Sunday, December 20 include:
· Skate parks and playgrounds
· Community sporting activities in parks and reserves
· Outdoor gyms
· Manly and Warringah aquatic centres
· All community centres
· Glen Street, Dee Why and Forestville library branches and community libraries
· Glen Street Theatre
· Manly Art Gallery and Museum
· Creative Space in North Curl Curl
· Manly Visitor Information Centre
· Kimbriki Buy Back Centre and the Eco House & Garden
· Environmental centres and programs
· The Aboriginal Heritage Office in Freshwater
· Council managed golf and tennis courts
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