Coronavirus: Bride and groom speak out after 37 guests infected following wedding in NSW

The bride and groom of a wedding that saw over 30 guests infected with coronavirus in NSW have spoken out.

3 min read

March 20, 2020 - 7:37PM

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A social media star whose wedding saw over 30 Australians infected with coronavirus says his world has been turned “upside down” by the development.

"It's insane. We were kissing and hugging people all night. We can't explain it let alone believe it," Scott Maggs, the groom, told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"We've had to deal with people accusing us of being irresponsible, blaming us for the virus. It has been pretty full on, we are very sensitive about that and trying to shield our guests from that," said Emma Metcalf, the bride.

She said the media attention just “created more hysteria and panic”, adding that she was thankful to the people who got tested and informed the couple.

The couple confirmed to the newspaper that there are now 37 guests who have tested positive after the Stanwell Tops wedding.

On Wednesday, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant revealed there were 31 confirmed cases of the deadly virus among guests who attended the wedding at the Tumbling Waters Retreat on March 6. Twenty-one are NSW residents and five live in other states, she said.

“NSW Health has worked with other states and territories to notify attendees at a wedding held at Stanwell Tops on March 6 of their potential exposure to COVID-19 and the need to quarantine themselves until March 20,” a NSW Health spokesman said.

The bride and groom were cleared yesterday,. They were tested after returning from their honeymoon in the Maldives.

I was a guest at a friendâ€™s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus.
— Senator Andrew Bragg (@ajamesbragg) March 17, 2020

Earlier this week, Senator Andrew Bragg took to Twitter to confirm he was a guest at the nuptials for Scott Maggs and Emma Metcalf and had tested positive. News.com.au has contacted him for comment.

Sally Hawach, who is 30 weeks pregnant, also tested positive.

“As you can imagine this is extremely stressful. I am 30 weeks pregnant and have a 2yo and a 1yo,” she wrote on Instagram.

“My 1yo is showing signs of COVID also and is extremely sick. I am very distressed at the thought of having possibly infected anyone. I have contacted everyone I think I have been in touch with. But please if you have been in contact with me since March 6th or anyone with COVID or you show signs of sickness please self isolate.

“Self isolate anyway. If you’ve been in touch with a confirmed case and show signs of COVID please do a test immediately. COVID is serious. COVID can be lethal and it is spreading fast. Let’s stay calm but please also take isolation seriously and look out for those around us. Sending love to all.”

Sonya Keller, the owner of the luxury venue in the Illawarra region of NSW, claims news of the outbreak has “damaged” her business and she’s been advised the guests “were not contagious during the time they spent” at the resort.

“Please can you spread the word as you can imagine the damage this has done to our business,” she wrote on the Tumbling Waters Retreat’s Facebook page.

Scott Maggs and Emma Metcalf’s wedding was hit with more than 30 cases of coronavirus, the NSW chief health officer confirmed. Picture: Instagram

The couple at the heart of the situation reportedly learnt about the shock situation while on honeymoon in the Maldives.

“We actually got a text, saying: ‘We need to fill you in that two people have been confirmed with coronavirus’,” Mr Maggs told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia.

Upon their return to Australia the newlyweds discovered there were six confirmed cases among their guests, explaining they were “completely gutted” when they found out.

The newlyweds were ‘gutted’ to learn their big day had been hit with so many cases of the deadly virus. Picture: Instagram

Senator Andrew Bragg has confirmed he has tested positive for coronavirus after attending the wedding in the Illawarra region. Picture: Twitter

Their nuptials, which could have had as many as 140 guests, were held before Prime Minister Scott Morrison introduced “social distancing” on Friday to prevent the spread of the virus in Australia. The ban instructs Aussies to avoid “non-essential” social scenarios and events with crowds of more than 500 people.

The Government has since warned the country is in for six months of chaos as the world faces its biggest public health crisis in a generation.

Health authorities say up to 150,000 Australians could die in the worst-case scenario where 60 per cent of the population is infected.

Tumbling Waters Retreat is a luxury wedding venue and can host as many as 140 guests at once. Picture: Instagram

Anzac Day services have been cancelled for the first time in 100 years, joining a growing number of major events falling victim to drastic “social distancing” measures.

There are now 849 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across Australia – 382 in New South Wales, 150 in Victoria, 184 in Queensland, 50 in South Australia, 64 in Western Australia, 10 in Tasmania, six in the Australian Capital Territory and three in the Northern Territory..

Six people have died – one in WA and five in NSW.

MAFS couple Natasha and Mikey got married at the venue for the 2020 season of the dating show, long before the coronavirus outbreak occurred. Picture: Channel 9

Tumbling Waters Retreat is famous for hosting Natasha and Mikey’s wedding on MAFS, long before the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe.

Weddings at the luxury venue, which features stunning coastal views, can cost $225 a head for a six-hour ceremony and dinner with beverages.

Continue the conversation @RebekahScanlan | rebekah.scanlan@news.com.au

Originally published as Coronavirus: Bride and groom speak out after 37 guests infected following wedding in NSW