19 new local Covid-19 cases recorded in NSW as Sydney’s Bondi cluster grows

NSW has recorded 19 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 as the Bondi cluster continues to grow. Two cases are of particular concern.

New South Wales Health Officials are concerned about two mystery positive tests that do not yet have a link to the 19 locally acquired cases of Covid-19 recorded overnight.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry said 17 of the 19 cases were linked to previously confirmed cases while the other two under are investigation.

“The two cases under investigation ... one case lives within the eastern suburbs and one case works within the eastern suburbs,” NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

Of the 19 new cases, seven were in isolation throughout their infectious period and a further two cases were in isolation for part of their infectious periods.

Nine cases were infectious in the community and the isolation status of one case is being confirmed.

Tuesday’s cases include a Rose Bay Secondary School student. The school site will be closed today for cleaning. All staff and students have been asked to self-isolate until they receive further advice.

Three new cases are linked to the Great Ocean Foods seafood wholesaler in Marrickville. This brings the total number of cases acquired through Great Ocean Foods, including contacts of workers there to 19.

Dr Kerry Chant revealed half of Tuesday’s new cases were out and about in the community before their Covid-19 diagnosis. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Three new cases are linked to the West Hoxton birthday party. This brings the total number of cases acquired through the birthday party to 34, including 27 people who acquired it at the party and subsequent contacts.

With the two unlinked cases, Dr Chant said it was a concern some cases were infectious while moving about greater Sydney.

“At the moment we are still seeing some cases that were potentially infectious in the community but what we are hoping is because of the lock down, the number of interactions those cases have had, where there is the potential for transmitting the virus, would have decreased significantly,” she said.

“That is why it is so critical, whilst you are under the stay-at-home provisions, you do minimise (leaving home) to go to retail, that you do wear a mask, try and keep your social distance in all of those environments.”

Dr Chant also flagged concerns for anyone who visited Sydney’s CBD or eastern suburbs during the past two weeks, explaining she was worried there may be missing cases.

“Can I also say, even if you have a single test result that is negative, if you get any other symptoms, you need to retest,” she said.

“That goes for the community in general. One negative test result does not predict what your result will be later that evening, or in subsequent days.

“That leads me to my next key point for today; in the last 14 days, we are particularly wanting to focus on workers or regular visitors to those local government areas of Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and City of Sydney.

“Clearly, during that period there was the chance that you may have inadvertently come into contact with someone who is positive, or there may well have been missing links, missing cases in that area.”