Sydney northern beaches coronavirus news: Long queues at testing facilities as toilet paper becomes ‘scarce’

Just hours after a fresh coronavirus outbreak was confirmed in Sydney’s northern beaches, toilet paper is flying off the shelves.

Just hours after a fresh coronavirus outbreak was confirmed in Sydney’s northern beaches, toilet paper is reportedly “scarce” in the area.

It comes as residents have scrambled to get tested amid the growing outbreak that has now risen to 17 cases.

Everyone in the area is being urged to get tested if they show the slightest of symptoms and on Thursday night people were told to stay home and work from home.

“NSW Health can advise that 17 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified in the northern beaches area, including cases diagnosed yesterday and today,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.

There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visithttps://t.co/LmeATIQK4Z or contact your GP.

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 17, 2020

This is the toilet paper section at our supermarket on the Northern Beaches within an hour of the travel restrictions being announced. The queue to get out extended back to the freezers at the back of the store. pic.twitter.com/lfbb2oqE4G

— Lorraine Fevre (@lorraine_fevre) December 17, 2020

The rapid rise in cases comes after two infections in the northern beaches were first revealed on Wednesday afternoon – a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s.

Another two were added to the outbreak on Thursday morning.

By the evening the cluster had ballooned out to 17 cases due to the massive testing effort that took place.

Nine News journalist Bill Hogan took to Twitter to share footage of near-empty shelves at Avalon’s Woolworths.

There were huge lines at the Avalon Recreation Centre for COVID-19 testing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Another user wrote: “Newport and Avalon coles/woollies are already out of toilet paper.”

Mr Hogan also shared photos of the COVID testing queues at Avalon beach clinic, showing one hour before closing the line had “doubled in size”.

Huge lines could be seen at testing facilities and people reported waiting as long as five hours to receive their test.

At Mona Vale Hospital they put on four times the amount of staff to meet the huge demand from people wanting to be tested.

Toilet paper getting scarce at Avalon Woolworths pic.twitter.com/Z6LoWe5Cb1

— Bill Hogan (@BillHogan9News) December 17, 2020

1 hour until close, the line for the Avalon testing clinic has doubled in size pic.twitter.com/Qc0OwH9bGJ

— Bill Hogan (@BillHogan9News) December 17, 2020

Meanwhile at Avalon Recreation Centre thousands could be seen lining up around the block.

There were also long waits at northern beaches Hospital where some people said they had been in the queue for five hours.

It came as health authorities put out alerts about a number of venues across Palm Beach and Avalon.

People were told if they went there during certain times they were considered close contacts and should isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative coronavirus test.

Northern beaches residents line up at Mona Vale Hospital for a COVID-19 test. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Residents are nervous after the outbreak. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Those sites include:

• Hungry Ghost Cafe, 20 Avalon Parade, Avalon on Sunday, December 13 between 9.30am and 11am and Tuesday, December 15 between 9.30 and 11am
• Sneaky Ground Cafe, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 10.30am and 11am
• Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 2pm and 3.30pm
• Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 7pm and 8pm
• Palm Beach female change rooms on Sunday, December 13 between 9am and 9.15am
• Coast Palm Beach Cafe, Palm Beach on Sunday, December 13 between 10am and 11am
• Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), Avalon Beach on Sunday, December 13 between 5pm and 7pm (not 3-5pm as previously reported) and Tuesday, December 15 between 3pm and 5pm

Some residents are being considered close contacts and forced to isolate regardless of their test result. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Health authorities have also issued a warning for those who visited the following venues to get a test immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.

These include:

• Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Road, Mona Vale on Monday, December 14 between 4.30 and 4.45pm
• Woolworths Avalon Beach on Sunday, December 13 between 12pm and 5pm
• Oliver’s Pie, Careel Shopping Village, Avalon Beach on Monday, December 14 between 9am and 9.15am

“Everyone living on the northern beaches area should monitor for even the mildest of symptoms and come forward for testing immediately if they appear, then isolate until a negative result is received,” NSW Health said on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Hazzard said the outbreak on the northern beaches warranted a serious reaction from residents in the area.

“I would say to everybody on the northern beaches it is sufficient to say four cases of apparent community transmission at this point would strongly suggest to any of the residents of the northern beaches that you should go and guest tested,” he told reporters on Thursday morning.

— with Rebekah Scanlan