NSW Health issues virus alerts for venues in Bondi Junction, Cronulla, Woolloomooloo and other Sydney suburbs

More than 100 staff members from Woolsworths on the northern beaches have been tested for COVID-19 and advised to isolate.

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci has warned against panic buying and said its Avalon and Mona Vale stores have been deep cleaned following confirmed COVID-19 cases among shoppers.

In a note to customers, Mr Banducci said 111 staff members have been tested after being advised to isolate with “no positive results at this stage”.

It comes after three customers who later tested positive for the virus visited the Avalon and Mona Vale shops this week.

Mr Banducci said the company has “activated our Level 2 COVID practices across all 9 of our Northern Beaches stores.”

“This includes wearing face masks, health screening for our team, supporting vulnerable team members with leave options and providing wellbeing support. This is in addition to all our standard COVIDSafe practices, such as hygiene measures, cleaning and social distancing.”

Shops will remain open with extra hygiene measures in place. Customers are asked to wear masks in the northern beaches area and people are being asked to “only buy what you need.”

“Our stores are fully stocked for Christmas and there is enough of everything for all of us,” he said.

URGENT ALERTS ISSUED

NSW health authorities have issued an urgent COVID-19 alert as the northern beaches cluster continues to spread into Sydney’s south and inner city.

Dozens of venues and public transport routes have been identified as places where infected people have been in recent days, including an RSL club, shopping centres and restaurants.

Among the suburbs affected are Woolloomoolo and Cronulla.

Following the increase in coronavirus cases linked to the Avalon cluster and concerns over wider transmission, NSW Health says all residents should monitor for symptoms.

“Anyone in the state with even the mildest symptoms such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, is asked to come forward immediately for testing, then isolate until a negative result is received,” a statement on Friday read.

“The source of these infections remains under investigation, though genome sequencing points to the strain being of US origin.”

Residents of the northern beaches area have been asked to stay home as much as possible over the next few days to assist contact tracing and reduce transmission.

Everyone is being urged to maintain physical distancing and wear a mask in places where that is not possible.

NSW Health has issued an urgent call to all residents to monitor for symptoms. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Close and casual contacts:

— Sienna Marina, 7-41 Cowper Wharf Road, Woolloomoolo, 11 December, from 12pm to 2pm. Anyone who spent one hour or longer at the restaurant must get tested and isolate until December 25. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms and isolate

— Pilgrims Vegetarian cafe, 97 Gerrale St, Cronulla, 16 December from 11.30am to 2.30pm. Anyone who spent one hour or more at the venue must be tested immediately and isolate until December 30. Other patrons should monitor for symptoms

— Cronulla RSL Club, 38 Gerrale St, Cronulla on December 16 from 5pm to closing. Anyone who was at the RSL must get tested and isolate until further notice. Close contacts will need to isolate until 30 December.

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, December 11 from 3.30pm to 5pm

— Rusti Fig cafe Newport, December 12 from 9am to 10am

— Salon of Hair Turramurra, December 15 from 10am to 3pm, and December 16 from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

Passengers on the first flights in and out of Avalon since coronavirus restrictions had to proceed through a medical check area. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

People who have visited the following locations are casual contacts, and should get tested immediately and isolate until they get a negative result:

— Coles Newport, December 11 from 5pm to 7pm, and December 12 from 3.15pm to 3.30pm

— Hills Florist, Terrey Hills, December 12 from 8am to 8.45am, with close contacts already contacted directly by NSW Health

— Restaurant Lovat, Newport, December 12 from 2.15pm to 2.25pm and 4.10pm to 4.15pm

— Nourished Wholefood cafe, Avalon December 12 from 7.30am to 7.40am

— RAN Sailing Association Darling Point, Navy Bear cafe and Christmas party, December 13 from 10am to 4pm

— Sabiang Thai Restaurant, 4/49 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, December 13 from 6pm to 8pm

— Seven West Media Building, 8 Central Ave, Eveleigh, December 14 from 8am to 11.30am

— Mentmore and Morley cafe and public toilets, 55 Mentmore Ave, Roseberry, December 14 from 10am to 3pm

— Harris Farm, Mona Vale Plaza, December 14 from 11am to 11.10am

— Paris Seafood cafe, 136 Cronulla, December 15 from 8.30pm to 9pm

— Cronulla Mall, December 15 from 8pm to 9pm and December 16 from 11am to 12pm

— Blend @ Grantham cafe, Riverstone, December 16 from 11am to 11.45am

— Westfield Bondi Junction, December 15 from 1pm to 2.30pm

— Forest Way Fruit Market, 2 Myoora St, Terrey Hills, December 16 from 4pm to 4.10pm

People line up for a COVID-19 testing at Mona Vale Hospital in Sydney on Friday. Picture: Steven Saphore/AFP

Some confirmed cases also travelled on transport services.

Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until they get a negative result.

— Ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaffe, December 16 from 6.15pm to 6.35pm

— Forest Coach Lines buses between Forestville and the CBD

— Route 273, December 15, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville at 7.10am and arriving QVB at 8am

— Route 271, December 15, departing QVB at 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose at 6.28pm

— Route 273, December 16, departing Jamieson Square, Forestville at 7.10am and arriving QVB, CBD at 8am

— Route 271, December 16, departing QVB at 5.25pm and arriving Austlink Business Park Belrose at 6.28pm.

Originally published as NSW Health issues virus alerts for venues in Bondi Junction, Cronulla, Woolloomooloo and other Sydney suburbs