Coronavirus NSW: Planet Fitness at Casula has recorded two new COVID-19 cases
Two new cases of COVD-19 have been discovered at a gym in southwestern Sydney, while two elderly people in Victoria are the latest deaths. NEW DETAILS
NSW
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The Casula Crossroads Hotel outbreak has now hit 30 cases with the discovery of two new infections linked to the Planet Fitness gym.
Ttwo men in their 20s came forward for testing after a case from the Crossroads was found to have visited the gym, which has now been shut for deep cleaning.
Anyone who visited the gym from July 4 to July 10 should self-isolate and get tested immediately.
“We now have three confirmed cases associated with this gym and we are identifying the close contacts of these new cases to ensure they are also isolating and getting tested,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday.
NO SOCIAL DISTANCING IN THE SNOW
A Jindabyne hotel has been fined for breaching public health and safety rules during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police were forced to shut the Lake Jindabyne Hotel and Motel down on Tuesday after they issued the hotel with three formal and seven informal warnings between July 5 and July 11.
The warnings were for intoxication levels of patrons, public health and safety issues including large groups of people failing to social distance.
The pub will be forced to close for three days and fined $5000.
Monaro Police District Commander Superintendent Paul Condon said police would work with businesses in relation to their COVID-19 safety plans and provide advice and guidance.
“The safety of the Snowy Mountains community is paramount, and we will continue to take action against those businesses that choose to ignore ministerial directions,” he said.
“When we launched Operation Snow Safe last month, we made it clear to the community that this season will not be business as usual.
“We have been working closely with our partner agencies and local businesses to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the health and safety of our community.”
Thirteen new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in NSW, 10 connected to the Crossroads Hotel in southwest Sydney.
Three were patrons of the hotel and seven are close contacts, bringing the cluster to 28.
The Premier said today she is not considering locking down suburbs in Sydney’s southwest as the Crossroads Hotel outbreak grows.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it is important not to “neglect” other areas of the state which have high tourism areas.
“This is a critical time for us to get high levels of testing in the community so we can contain it”.
The rise in cases comes as South Australia announced it would keep its borders closed to NSW despite a planned reopening on Monday.
SA Premier Steven Marshall said the state had decided not to open their borders to NSW following news of the worsening southwest Sydney outbreak.
“The super spreader event which occurred on the Crossroads Hotel is really of great concern,” he said, citing concerns about the disease’s two-week incubation period.
CONFIRMED CASE VISITED AGED CARE FACILITY
One of today’s cases visited the Prestons Lodge aged care facility, triggering a lock down of the home.
While no other cases have been recorded at the facility, the building has been placed into lockdown as a precaution.
The man was in the aged care facility visiting a relative, and contact tracing is underway.
Dr Chant said anyone living in the Campbelltown and Liverpool areas should stay away from critical services such as aged care.
“We’ve provided advice to aged care facilities across the state to say if you’ve been to those areas, exclude staff if they’ve been to those areas,” Dr Chant said.
“It is important that we cast the net very wide and then incrementally draw it back,” she said.
VICTORIA RECORDS 270 NEW CASES
A man and woman both aged in their 80s have died from COVID-19 in Victorian hospitals.
Their deaths bring the state’s toll to 26 and to 110 nationally.
Australia has also hit the grim milestone of 10,000 cases across the country, including 4200 in Victoria.
More than 240 of the new cases were still under investigation, while 28 had been linked to known outbreaks. There are 1803 active cases in Victoria.
Victoria has recorded another sharp increase in COVID-19 infections, with 270 positive cases from almost 22,000 tests in the past 24 hours.
Premier Daniel Andrews described tracing the origin of the infections as a “real challenge” as the outbreak grows.
As the virus crisis deepens in Victoria, Mr Andrews said 200 ambulance personnel will be deployed to assist the public health unit.
More than 1,000 defence personnel will also assist the government manage lockdown measures. This adds to the more than 300 currently on the ground.
Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said the growth in cases shows Victoria “hasn’t turned the corner yet” – something he hopes will happen in coming weeks as authorities trace the source of the outbreaks.
1,800 of the total cases in Victoria are currently active – meaning they have not yet recovered from the disease.
Of these, the large majority – 147 – are linked to Al-Taqwa College, 28 to the Menarock Aged Care Facility in Essendon and 14 to the Royal Women’s Hospital.
NSW TIGHTENS PUB RESTRICTIONS
Restrictions on NSW pubs, clubs and hotels will be tightened and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian hasn’t ruled out a further rules, saying lockdown measures to be announced today could be just the beginning.
Ms Berejiklian confirmed the new measures on Tuesday and said the latest capacity restrictions would only apply to pubs and hotels.
“I can’t guarantee we won’t need to go further across the board in curtailing the ability of people to do what they’re doing,” she said.
Under the plan – which was proposed in part by the Australian Hotels Association – group bookings would be wound back to 10 from 20, every guest would be required to sign in instead of just one per group and pub guests will be capped at 300 people no matter the size of the venue.
Pubs with larger gatherings of more than 250 people could also be required to have a designated “COVID-safe” officer, under the plan.
Ms Berejiklian also confirmed the 300 person cap on venues would operate concurrently with the four square metre rule – meaning small venues are still required to practice social distancing.
The latest restrictions to be announced by the government will apply for at least the next month, the Premier said.
RELATED : Crossroads Hotel cluster grows to 21
When questioned over whether the new limits would encourage people to line outside venues, she urged everyone to keep their distance.
“Where there’s a queue it’s up to us to social distance. I get so infuriated when I walk or drive past a queue of people and have to tell them to social distance.”
One government source said the industry was trying to move “on the front foot” amid public concern over the Crossroads Hotel cluster.
TRACKING THE SPREAD: VENUES AFFECTED
The cluster which broke out at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula has grown to 28 positive COVID-19 cases and has led to a handful of Sydney premises being named as “potentially infectious”. Here are the affected venues:
Crossroads Hotel, Casula: Anyone who attended between July 3 and July 10 has been asked to self-isolate and get tested. The hotel has been closed since July 10.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Monday it was important that the 28 cases had been linked to the same cluster – The Crossroads Hotel.
“To some extent that represents a success because … we can stop that ongoing transmission,” she said.
Planet Fitness, Casula: A staff member from Crossroads Hotel attended Planet Fitness between 9am-11am on July 9 and 4pm-6pm on July 10. The centre is closed.
Picton Hotel: A man linked to the Casula outbreak attended the gaming room on July 4, 9 and 10 during his infectious period. The pub is closed.
The Star Casino: A man in his 20s attended The Star on July 4 between 8pm to 10.30pm and then went to the Canterbury Leagues Club between 11pm and 1am.
The casino is open with restrictions but has been fined $5000 by Liquor and Gaming NSW relating to patrons standing and mingling together on July 4, the night a gambler visited before testing positive for COVID-19.
Canterbury Leagues Club: Canterbury Leagues Club is on alert after a patron who attended on July 4 tested positive to COVID-19. The club has a full record of patrons on the premises at the time of the alleged visit and have passed these details onto NSW Health.
St Francis Catholic College, Edmondson Park: The school issued a letter to parents and carers informing them that a group of 25 teachers had attended the Crossroads Hotel on Friday July 3. They have returned negative results.
Two Victorians, who have since tested positive, attended the following places separately:
Cook at Kurnell: Attended for lunch on July 5 between 11.30am and 12.30pm. The venue is open at this point.
Highfield, Caringbah: Attended dinner on July 5 between 6pm and 9pm. The restaurant is open.
Merimbula RSL: Attended on July 6 for dinner between 6pm and 9pm. The RSL is closed.
Waterfront Cafe, Merimbula: Attended on July 7 for breakfast between 8.30am and 9.30am. The cafe is closed.
Murray Downs Golf Club: Attended on July 4 and 5. The venue is open.
Narellan Town Centre: Attended Kmart, Target, Best & Less, H&M and the food court on July 6. The centre is open.
Zone Bowling Club, Villawood: Attended on June 27 between 11am and 3pm. The venue is open.
Originally published as Coronavirus NSW: Planet Fitness at Casula has recorded two new COVID-19 cases
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