Coronavirus spreads to Sydney’s south after Cronulla RSL confirms positive case visited

Sydney’s virus outbreak has spread to a popular RSL in the city’s south which has confirmed it had a positive case visit.

A popular RSL club in Sydney’s south has been closed after confirming a positive coronavirus case visited the venue earlier this week.

Cronulla RSL in the heart of the Shire announced on its Facebook page on Friday morning that a positive case visited the club on Wednesday.

It will shut for the next 24 hours for thorough cleaning and is awaiting further advice from NSW Health.

“We wish to advise that at 9.45am this morning the Club was notified of a positive COVID case who visited the Club on Wednesday the 16th of December,” it posted at 10am on Friday.

“We thank you for your understanding as we navigate through the next 24 hours.”

***IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT***We wish to advise that at 9.45am this morning the Club was notified of a positive COVID...

Posted by Cronulla RSL on Thursday, December 17, 2020

The case has been linked to the growing cluster emerging from two venues in Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches, which now stands at 28.

Penrith RSL in the city’s west also closed for cleaning overnight after a member of band Nothing Too Serious, which played there on the afternoon of December 13, tested positive to the virus Thursday.

The club has since reopened but anyone who visited the venue between 1pm and 6pm on Sunday should get tested if symptoms develop.

Last night Penrith RSL underwent a deep clean after being notified by NSW Health that a member of the band who was at...

Posted by Penrith RSL on Thursday, December 17, 2020

Contact tracing details have been provided to NSW Health, the club said in a statement.

“Entertainment this weekend on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th has been cancelled. Bingo, raffles and promotions will continue,” the club said.

“We have, and will continue to go above and beyond to maintain the safety of our members, visitors and staff, including temperature checking, regular intensive cleaning and the availability of hand sanitiser throughout the venue.”

Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young has declared the northern beaches a hotspot and when she was asked about Cronulla she did not rule out adding more Sydney regions to the list if the virus continued to spread.

“If things rapidly escalate through the rest of Sydney, other areas may be declared hot spots, and people might end up being caught in that process,” she said.

It comes as public spaces across the northern beaches, including libraries, skate parks and golf courses, will be closed for three days as the council area grapples with the latest outbreak.

Northern Beaches Council issued the advice early on Friday which stated that it had taken “strong measures” to protect the health of the community.

The closure encompasses parks (with organised sport banned), libraries, aquatic centres, gyms, art galleries and creative spaces, playgrounds, skate parks, tennis courts, golf courses, community centres and several council-run offices.

All spaces will be closed until Monday.

Child care centres are still open.

Residents on the northern beaches told to stay home. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Earlier, an RSL club was named as the potential source of the outbreak as health authorities scramble to alert everyone who attended the venue.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was “critical” to locate everyone that visited the Avalon RSL Club on December 11.

“Our working hypothesis is that someone at that RSL club was potentially the source of infection for a number of subsequent cases,” she said.

“So, it is critical that we identify any individuals that may be positive there.”

The news comes as it was revealed one positive case played drums in a band who performed all around Sydney, spreading possible sites of infection all across the city.

On Friday morning NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the source of the outbreak came from an overseas strain. How locals became infected remains unknown.

Several health alerts have also been sent out for venues.

People are queuing at testing sites. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Those who have visited the following locations have been urged to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result: Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Mona Vale, December 13, 12-12.30pm

Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, December 13, 12.45-1.30pm

Avalon Beach SLSC, December 13, 14 and 15, 9-9.30am

Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, December 14, 9.30-10:30am

Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, December 14 5-5.30pm

Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, December 14 5.20‑5.25pm

Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 15, 12-12.15pm

Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 15, 12-12.20pm

Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, December 14 5.20‑5.25pm

Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 15, 12-12.15pm

Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 15, 12-12.20pm

Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Rd, Artarmon, December 15, 2-2:30pm

Public spaces in Sydney's northern beaches have been closed. Picture: Google

HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, December 15, 4.30-4.45pm

Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Ave, Dee Why, December 15, 4.45-4.55pm

North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach, December 15, 6-6.05pm

Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, December 16, 7‑7:30am

Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, December 16, 8-9am

Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, December 16, 2-2:05pm

Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, December 16, 3.30-3.50pm

A confirmed case also travelled on the train network on December 14.

NSW Health said passengers are considered casual contacts and should get a test and isolate until they get a negative result.

Roseville to Redfern, 6.50-7.40am

Redfern to Milsons Point, 11.20-11.45am

Milsons Point to Roseville, 3.15-3.40pm

Several RSL venues are also on alert.

The health department said people who visited the venues are considered close contacts and need to get a test and isolate for 14 days. These include:

Avalon RSL Club, December 11, all day until close

Penrith RSL Club, December 13, 1-6pm

Kirribilli Club, December 14, 12-3pm

Several other sites were also listed earlier on Thursday. Anyone at the venues below must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.

Hungry Ghost Cafe, 20 Avalon Parade, Avalon – Sunday, December 13, 9.30-11am and Tuesday, December 15, 9.30-11am

Sneaky Grind Cafe, 3/48 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach, December 14, 9.30-11am

Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach, December 14, 2-3.30pm

Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach, December 14, 7-8pm

Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), 4 Bowling Green Lane Avalon Beach, December 13, 5-7pm (not 3-5pm as previously reported) and Tuesday, December 15, 3-5pm

Palm Beach female change rooms, December 13, 9-9.15am

Coast Palm Beach Cafe, Barren Joey Road, Palm Beach, December 13, 10‑11am

There are also a number of spots where visitors at certain times have been advised to get tested and then self-isolate until a negative result is received.

These include:

Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Road, Mona Vale, December 14, 4.30‑4.45pm

Woolworths Avalon Beach, 74 Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach, December 13, 12-5pm, and Tuesday, December 15, 12-12.30pm

Oliver’s Pie, Careel Shopping Village, 1 Careel Head Rd, Avalon Beach, December 14, 9-9.15am

New pop-up testing clinics have been made available, along with a drive-through version at Avalon Bowling Club.