Barwon Health monitoring Sydney cluster contacts amid Geelong testing rush

Barwon Health has revealed they are monitoring Geelong-based close contacts from Sydney’s growing coronavirus cluster, while travellers are rushing back from NSW to beat the mandatory quarantine deadline.

Barwon Health is monitoring contacts of a concerning and growing coronavirus cluster from Sydney as the number of Geelong locals tested surged over the weekend.

Travellers are rushing to return home as Premier Daniel Andrews declared Sydney a “red zone”, with people arriving in Victoria facing a fortnight of mandatory hotel quarantine.

Barwon Health public health unit director Eugene Athan said a number of close and casual contacts to the Sydney outbreak have been identified in the community.

“All are self-isolating and are being closely supported and monitored by the Barwon Health Public Health Unit,” he said.

Prof Athan said Barwon Health saw a significant increase in testing over the weekend at both its Barwon Health North and Torquay Community Health Centre testing sites, including a number of returned travellers who were in Sydney on or after December 11.

On Saturday, almost 350 tests were conducted between these sites, compared to the seven-day average of about 140 test per day prior.

COVID testing at Avalon Airport this week. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

Prof Athan on Sunday afternoon said Barwon Health had conducted more than 180 COVID-19 tests at the Avalon Airport pop-up testing site since Friday.

“Those tested are currently in home quarantine as per DHHS guidelines, with authorised officers from DHHS on site at Avalon Airport to provide advice and guidance,” he said.

Prof Athan said while there was concern about COVID-19 re-entering the Geelong region, Barwon Health was optimistic any cases would be rapidly identified and isolated.

“We have already seen an impressive response from our community, demonstrated by the significant increase in people coming forward for testing over the weekend,” he said.

Thirty new cases were reported for New South Wales on Sunday, with 28 of those linked to the northern beaches cluster.

Mr Andrews said without mandatory mask rules and stay at home orders across Sydney, Victoria’s government and health authorities did not have confidence that the situation remained safe.

Mr Andrews announced from 11:59pm on Sunday, the Greater Sydney area and the NSW Central Coast would be designated as a ‘red zone’.

People who live in these communities, or have visited these communities since December 11, cannot enter Victoria.

Anyone from this zone found trying to enter Victoria in breach of this order will be subject

to 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine.

Victorians who have recently visited or are currently in Greater Sydney and the Central Coast, other than those in the Northern Beaches area, will be given until 11:59pm on Monday night to return home.

They must self-quarantine for 14 days at home, while those returning from Tuesday would need to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine.

Mr Andrews said the Northern Beaches area of Sydney would also be elevated to a ‘hot zone’.

Victorians in the Northern Beaches area remain subject to the NSW’s chief health officer’s lockdown orders.

Avalon Airport chief executive Justin Giddings said flights inbound from Sydney on Sunday and Monday were heavily booked.

“You’re seeing a mass exodus of mainly Victorians trying to get back before Christmas,” he said.

“I do expect there will be fewer services between Avalon and Sydney in the foreseeable future.”

Mr Giddings said there had been a significant amount of cancellations on outbound Sydney flights over the weekend.

For a list of testing sites in the Geelong region, visit www.barwonhealth.org.au/coronavirus

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Originally published as Barwon Health monitoring Sydney cluster contacts amid Geelong testing rush