NSW records nine new cases, one a mystery

One of the new cases, a staff member at Chopstix Asian Cuisine at Smithfield RSL, has no known source.

Masks are not yet mandatory in NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Nine new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in NSW, including two connected to an outbreak at Smithfield RSL that currently has no known source.

Dr Jeremy McAnulty said on Saturday that one of the nine cases is a staff member at Chopstix Asian Cuisine in the Smithfield RSL, the source of which is currently unknown. A second staff member has also tested positive, thought to be a secondary infection from their colleague.

The other cases all have known sources: one student at Tangara School for Girls, one person who attended the Mounties Club at Mount Pritchard, and five close contacts of confirmed cases.

People who dined at the Chopstix restaurant between July 31 and August 9 must monitor for symptoms and immediately get tested and self-isolate if any present.

A case also dined at the Rick Stein at Bannisters restaurant in Mollymook. People who were there on August 1 between 8pm and 10.30pm for at least one hour must get tested right away, and self isolate until midnight tonight.

Dr McAnulty said maintaining a high level of testing is “vital” as the virus continues to circulate in the state.

Over the 24 hour period in which the nine cases were detected, 27,389 tests were conducted.

Currently 129 people are being treated for the virus in hospital. Seven are in intensive care and five of those people on ventilators.

The state’s death toll remains at 53.

More to come